Annamayya Pathway opens

hief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated several projects here on Tuesday evening aiming to create additional facilities for devotees visiting the hill shrine.
He was accorded a warm welcome by the trust board chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju and other board members including executive officer (EO) LV Subramanyam and joint executive officer (JEO) Srinivasa Raju.
The chief minister inaugurated and declared open Annamayya Marg, the newly renovated ancient path which is said to be used by the great saint-poet Annamayya to reach Tirumala.
Later, Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated the ‘Venkata Patham’, first phase of the Tirumala ring road. The 0.75 km long project costing Rs 5 crore was completed recently.
He also laid the base for ‘Vakula Vishranti Nilayam’ and the kitchen complex near the Vaikuntham Q complex, after which he returned to Sri Padmavati guest house. Earlier, at the Nada Neerajana mandapam,  the chief minister released a spiritual book ‘Tirumala ananda nilaya sasanalu’ which describes the valuable content embedded in the inscriptions engraved on the walls of the Tirumala shrine in Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit and Kannada languages. Later, he released pamphlets with the name ‘Tirumala Teerthalu’ which describes the importance of the sacred waterfalls spread across the beautiful Seshachala ranges which includes Japali, Chakra, Sanakasananda, Ramakrishna and Tumburu teerthams.
He also released a pamphlet named ‘Srivari Kanukaga Andina Nanela Vaisistyam’ which describes the history of various coins donated in Srivari Hundi since 1st Century AD.
The chief minister presented a pair of ‘silk vastrams’ to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on behalf of the state government, for the Sri Vari Annual Salakatla Brahmotsavam in Tirumala on Tuesday night.
He carried the silver plate containing the ‘vastrams’ on his head from the Bedi Anjaneya Swamy temple to the Venkateswara temple and was accompanied by temple paraphernalia and the ‘nadaswaram’ music. Later, he presented the ‘vastrams’ to one of chief priests Ramana Dikshitulu, inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Tirumala replica in Kanyakumari to come up in 1 year

After assuming the charge as chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for a record third time, Kanumuri Bapiraju looks forward to serving lakhs of devotees visiting Tirumala with more commitment and enthusiasm.
 Express caught up with Bapiraju for a quick interview. Excerpts:
Congratulations for retaining the post and making it for the third time. As there will be more expectations on you, what are your priorities for the next two-year tenure?
I have no other priorities but serving the pilgrims in a better way. I would interact with them directly in every possible way and try to address their complaints to facilitate a hassle-free darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. My aim is to ensure that each devotee leaves Tirumala with satisfaction.
Are you satisfied with the work done during your previous term?
During the 365 days in office, I visited the Annadhana Satram and Vaikuntam Queue Complex 68 times each to get firsthand information from devotees on their problems and addressed most of them. God gave me another opportunity to serve the devotees.
What are the other major projects you will take up in the next two years?
The construction of temples in Kanyakumari and Kurukhsetra will be completed in the next one year. The Kanyakumari temple is almost a replica of the Tirumala temple and will have a Ghosala, Vedapathashala, staff quarters and a pilgrim amenities.
What are your plans for the welfare of TTD employees?
We have a challenge for providing house sites for all TTD employees. Since we are not able find a place nearby the pilgrim town, we are trying to find a suitable site at some distance. Irrespective of their positions, all the employees will be given houses in the next two years.

Better facilities await Tirumala pilgrims

The temple management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, along with the Indian Railways, have decided to provide better facilities to devotees visiting Titupati from across the country.

Addressing media at Tirupati on Friday, TTD chairman Kanumuri Baapiraju said: “Tirupathi being the highest revenue grosser, they have planned to construct a foot over bridge connecting Vishnu Nivasam and Railway station and asked the concerned officials to prepare and submit the design of the plan in 15 days to Railway DRM office.” The DRM will take decision in another two weeks time after observing the designs, he added.

A TTD information centre will also come up in the Railway station soon to provide necessary information regarding accommodation, darshan and other facilities. Railway e-Ticket counters will also be set up in Srinivasam, Vishnunivasam and SV Guest house for the pilgrims will be built.

Bapiraju said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will lay the foundation stone to the pucca houses meant for the Tirumala displaced families on April 22. He will also lay the foundation to a sub-way to be constructed between the Srinivasam Complex and the RTC bus stand in Tirupati.

Panels to supervise TTD works

TTD trust board chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju said they were contemplating committees with board members to supervise various works.
 The TTD trust board meeting, held here on Tuesday for the first time after the appointment of new trust members, reviewed the arrangements for the ensuing Salakatla Brahmotsavams and the visit of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, slated to arrive September 18 for offering silk vasthrams to the Lord on behalf of the state government.
 The CM will also inaugurate Tiruvenkatapatham ring road,he said