Reconstruction of Vakulamatha temple soon

- TTD to sanction Rs 10 crore to TUDA for development and beautification of the road from Renigunta Airport to Kaluru Junction near Tirupati
- Elaborate arrangements for Vaikunta Ekadasi: TTD EO

Tirupati: The devotee’s long cherished wish of the reconstruction of the ruined Vakulamatha temple at Perur near here had at last going to be fulfilled with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) resolved to take up construction of steps and fencing to safeguard the dilapidated temple. The TTD Trust Board which met in Tirumala on Tuesday decided to prepare the estimation for the two works.

Disclosing the details of the meet later to media, TTD Trust Board chairman Ch Krishnamurthy said as the two works were approved by the board even before the High Court of Hyderabad recently giving green signal to TTD to take up the reconstruction of the dilapidated temple, the TTD will first take up these works before going ahead with the reconstruction in the next stage.

Accordingly, the Engineering department was directed to prepare the estimation for the construction of the steps to shrine of Goddess Vakulamatha, mother of Lord Venkateswara, atop a hillock in Perur village, he explained. It may be recalled that various Hindu outfits, Swamijis like Sri Peetham pontiff Paripoornananda Swamy and devotees vociferously seeking the reconstruction of the temple, organised protests and also represented to TTD several times to press for the reconstruction which was at last realised with the TTD decision.

Another major decision taken in the meet was sanction of Rs 10 crore to Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) as a financial assistance, for development and beautification of the road from Renigunta Airport to Kaluru Junction near Tirupati. About other decisions approved in the meet, Krishnamurthy said the trust board sanctioned Rs 2.04 crore for renovation of Sri Padmavathi temple at Pithapuram in East Godavari district and another Rs 4.74 crore for construction of six sheds for cattle in the TTD Gosamrakshana Shala in Palamaner in Chittoor district. The trust board also approved the purchase of coconuts, rice and cashew nuts required for preparation of prasadams in the TTD.

It also gave its nod for the two donations from devotee including a house in Bengaluru city valued about Rs 57.3 lakh and 6.22 acre land costing Rs 74.90 lakh at Kilakupodu village in Ramakuppam mandal in Chittoor district. A proposal for creation of 447 posts of priests and other religious duty staff for posting in TTD controlled temples and enhancing the salary of the drivers working on consolidated basis from Rs 15,189 to Rs 24,500 were also adopted for sending to government for approval. It also decided to extend the contract of potu workers engaged for preparation of Laddu prasadams in Tirumala temple for another year.

TTD Executive Officer (EO) Dr D Sambasiva Rao said that elaborate arrangements will be made for the Vaikunta Ekadasi, a major religious festival, which attracts every year a huge crowd of devotees in Tirumala temple. The EO said efforts are on to commence the darshan for common pilgrims on Vaikunta Ekadasi Day (Jan 8) at 4 am.

“TTD decided to give top priority to common devotees and see that all the pilgrims arrive on that day to have darshan,’’ he said adding that additional facility including makeshift shed at Narayanagiri gardens for the pilgrims to wait will be made to ensure orderly darshan to the devotees. TTD trust board members and officials were present.