Reliance to build Rs 120 crore annaprasadam kitchen at Tirumala

Tirupati: Indian multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries will build a mega annaprasadam kitchen for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) at the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.Following the TTD trust board meeting held at Tirumala on Saturday, board chief BR Naidu stated that the Reliance group will shell out Rs 120 crore towards establishing a mega kitchen at Tirumala on a completely donation basis.The Tirupati trust extends free food through its annaprasadam wing to close to one lakh devotees every day and over three lakh devotees during important festive occasions such as the Srivari annual Brahmotsavams, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Radhasapthami, etc.The TTD trust board gave its nod to the "Srivari Mudupu Pathram" initiative to provide a platform for devotees to extend donations to the TTD through UPI and other digital payment gateways, obtain a receipt certificate of equal denomination and deposit it into the Srivari Hundi when they go for darshan.TTD chief stated that multiple counters will be set up at Tirumala and Tirupati, where devotees can receive the Srivari Mudupu Pathram after completing payments digitally.The TTD trust board also sanctioned Rs 118 crore to improve infrastructure across all educational institutions managed by the Tirupati trust.The board also sanctioned Rs 4 crore for executing various electrical and civil works ahead of the Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple at Vontimitta in Kadapa district. "While we anticipate that more than 70000 devotees may take part in the Sita-Rama kalyanam festival this year on April 1, TTD will distribute one Srivari laddu free of cost to more than 70,000 devotees at Vontimitta", the TTD chairman added.The trust also accorded approval for the launch of the Akshara Govindam initiative, under which Hindu devotees can perform Aksharabhyasam for their children at the Vakulamatha temple near Peruru on the outskirts of Tirupati.The TTD allocated Rs 11 crore towards the modernisation of Goshalas, Rs 8 crore for the purchase of X-ray baggage screening equipment at Alipiri security checkpoint, and Rs 10 crore for the establishment of a centralised command control centre at the TTD administrative building in Tirupati.Taking a strong exception to the manner in which some persons were desecrating the sanctity of the Tirumala hills by shooting reels, TTD chief warned that the temple trust will initiate legal proceedings against anyone who indulges in such acts.