₹2 Lakh Insurance Cover for Tirumala Pilgrims Under New TTD Initiative

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is set to introduce insurance coverage for every pilgrim visiting Tirumala, with a payout of ₹2 lakh in the event of death during the pilgrimage. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the facility would be implemented through an Aadhaar-based online system in partnership with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

The Chief Minister made the announcement after reviewing TTD arrangements in Tirumala and later addressing the media. He said the proposed insurance facility was part of efforts to strengthen pilgrim welfare and services at the temple town.

Naidu also spoke about the newly established Sri Venkateswara Museum, which was developed by the TCS Trust at a cost of ₹104 crore. The trust will manage the museum for the next five years. The facility is intended to showcase the history of the Tirumala temple and the grandeur of Lord Venkateswara. A healing experience centre called ‘Durlabha Darshan’ has also been established at Vaikuntham Complex-I.

To improve transportation for devotees, the Reliance Foundation donated 25 electric buses, while Bharat Biotech contributed another seven. Naidu flagged off the buses at Narayanagiri Circle. The Reliance Foundation also provided a dedicated electric vehicle charging station.

The Chief Minister said the government was working towards constructing 5,000 temples across Andhra Pradesh through the Srivani Trust. Plans are also being considered to establish Venkateswara temples in cities with large Hindu populations across the world. Requests have reportedly come from Mauritius and New Zealand, besides other parts of India.

Naidu said Tirumala, with its 2,300-year history, should be developed into a globally prominent temple destination. He said the Annaprasadam Trust has a corpus of ₹3,165 crore and that measures would be taken to improve food services. TTD hospitals and hospitals in Tirupati will also be integrated, while doctors could serve as ‘Srivari Sevakulu’.

Infrastructure plans include a proposed skywalk connecting Tirupati railway station and the bus stand, along with a multi-level parking facility on 50 acres recently acquired by the government. House sites will be provided to 3,200 TTD employees at an estimated cost of ₹230 crore.

Naidu also proposed developing Tirupati as a services and wedding destination. He directed officials to adopt a net-zero approach, install solar panels on TTD buildings and expand renewable energy and battery storage, noting that TTD consumes around 10 crore units of electricity annually.