TTD to give monthly aid to tribal schools

he Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust Board has resolved to provide a monthly assistance of Rs 99,000 to the 198 singleteacher schools in tribal areas across the state.
Speaking to the media after the Trust Board meeting here on Friday, TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju said that they had earmarked a grant of Rs 23.76 lakh for two years for the tribal schools which would be utilised to propagate Hinduism.
The chairman also said that they had decided to appoint Annamacharya Sankeerthana maestro Dr G Balakrishna Prasad as the “Asthan Vidwan’ of the TTD.
In the Board meeting, it was also decided to purchase 145 acre of land near Renigunta, belonging to the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA), at a cost of Rs 70 crore.
The TTD will take up the Gold Malam works to Kalpavriksha Vahanam, Chinnasesha Vahanam, Makaratoranam of the Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple at Tirupati.
The proposal of giving a facelift to the centuries-old Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Pullur village in Siddipet Mandal of Medak district also got a nod from the Board. It also approved the proposal of appointing 18 Vedic pundits for Dharmagiri Veda Pathashala.
The pundits will get a monthly remuneration of Rs 16,000 each. Earlier, the TTD chairman released the New Year Diary for 2013.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams decides to construct one more guest house

TIRUMALA: The first-ever meeting of the newly-formed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board here on Tuesday did not take any key decisions.
Except for coming up with a plan to construct a 280-room Vakulamatha guest house adjacent to the recent Nandakam rest house for the benefit of pilgrims and a promise to provide a hassle-free darshan to the pilgrims, the 14-member board had failed to outline its direction to run the cash-rich temple.
The main apprehension among the pilgrims is over the rush for VIP tickets, which could increase manifold thanks to the jumbo board which is in place now.
"Most of the board members will use their clout to get VIP tickets to their near and dear ones," alleged Bhanu Prakash of BJP. Though the classification of VIP tickets was abolished, sources said it's only a matter of time before listing of VIP pilgrims as per priority makes a comeback.
Sources said in spite of the controversy, the TTD would stick to its time-tested pandering of VIPs at the expense of common pilgrims.
Chairman of Board Kanumuri Bapiraju said with a full-fledged board they were confident of taking up more pro-pilgrim activities.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chief lords over TirumalaTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chief lords over Tirumala

HYDERABAD/TIRUMALA: Kanumuri Bapiraju, who got another two-year term as chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, seems to have become sort of lord unto himself. That Bapiraju has started playing the power-induced games in the famed temple portals is to state the obvious.
A case in point: Presently, his office teems with not less than 15 staffers whose salary is paid by the TTD.

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