TTD approves ` 2,858 cr annual budget

Tirumala: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) approved its estimated annual budget of Rs 2,858.48 crores for the year 2017-18 on Tuesday.

The TTD Trust Board under the chairmanship of Dr Ch Krishnamurthy took some important decisions too at a meeting held at Annamayya Bhavan at Tirumala.

The TTD expects to receive Rs 1,110 crores from capital funds (as gifts) from devotees, which would be the major earner, while Rs.300 special entry darshan is estimated to fetch a minimum of Rs 256 crores in the financial year.

TTD is expecting to garner Rs 807 crore as interest on investments, Rs 124 crore through accommodation and Rs 55 crore through Arjitha Seva tickets. Similarly, the payment of wages and salaries is the major outgo, accounting for Rs 575 crores.

For this financial year, an estimated amount of Rs.200 crore towards engineering works, Rs 125 crore for HDPP (Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishath), Rs 112.75 crore on education, Rs.125.50 crore towards health and sanitation and facilities management, Rs 89 crore on vigilance and security, Rs 74.50 crore on hospitals, Rs 185 crore on pension outlay and Rs 75 crore to strengthen corpus of the pension fund will be spent by the board.

An estimated amount of Rs 100 crore is to be earned from the sale of human hair. The TTD earned Rs 33.13 crore through the e-auction of human hair in December 2016.

The board approved the preparation of new Sahasranama Kasula Mala to Lord Venkateswara at a cost of Rs 11 crore. Nirmal Sethia Foundation of London agreed to pay Rs 12 crores to construct the temple of the Lord at Kurukshetra in Haryana.

Construction of a massive Sarva Darshanam Complex for the sarva darshan pilgrims at Tirumala will be taken up at a cost of Rs 5 crores.

The TTD board decided to replace normal bulbs with LED bulbs in all choultries, rest houses and streets at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore.