The board of trustees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) made the decision on Tuesday to suggest renaming the Renigunta airport as "Sri Venkateswara International Airport" and to submit a request to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for the same.
Why is Renigunta Airport Suggested to be Renamed?
TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu and Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao spoke to the media, stating that the idea sought to give the facility a "distinctive spiritual and iconic character" that was appropriate given its close proximity to Lord Venkateswara's shrine.
The construction of a Lord Venkateswara temple in Bengaluru was another significant decision made during the meeting. The decision was made in response to a proposal by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Sivakumar and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had agreed in principle to set aside 47 acres of land for the project.
100 Electric Buses for Tirumala Tirupati Pilgrims
The TTD is prepared to receive 100 electric buses from the Ministry of Heavy Industries, with assistance from H.D. Kumaraswamy, as part of its dedication to environmentally responsible transportation. These buses would be used to transport pilgrims between Tirupati and Tirumala, contingent on demand and practicality.
Food Testing Facility within the Campus
In order to test essential commodities like ghee, water, food, and other ingredients used in the preparation of prasadams inside the hill temple and guarantee their quality, the board also decided to lease roughly 30 acres of land for the establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Tirupati.
On the advice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, a three-member committee led by Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy will make a recommendation on the hiring after considering the concerns of about 200 contract lecturers who have worked for the TTD for tens of years but have not yet been regularized.
Other Initiatives to be taken up by the TTD Board
In order to cultivate moral and spiritual values in young people, the board decided to implement the "Mana Varasatvam" program, which teaches students about Hindu customs and Telugu cultural heritage, and the "Sadgamaya" program, which teaches Sanatana Dharma values and personality development.
In addition, the TTD intends to reach a larger audience by extending its public outreach through spiritual programs like Sanmargam, Vana-Nidhi, Giri Janardhanam, Bhagavad Gita Anushtana Bodhana, Bhaje Srinivasam, Harikatha Vaibhavam, and Akshara Govindam.
Additionally, the board decided to celebrate World Yoga Day on June 21 at the parade grounds behind the TTD administrative buildings in Tirupati.
