Andhra Govt cancels 'Mumtaz hotel' project near Tirumala

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has canceled all tenders related to the Mumtaz Hotel project near Tirumala, reaffirming that no Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) land will be used for private ventures. Announcing the decision, he stated, “No private entities will be allowed in this sacred place,” and assured that alternative land would be provided to developers. The move follows widespread protests by religious groups opposing commercial projects near the temple.

The controversy dates back to 2021, when the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allotted 20 acres to The Oberoi Group’s Mumtaz Hotels Limited under its 2020-2025 Tourism Policy. The ₹250 crore project planned 100 luxury villas near Alipiri Srivari Padalu. Despite the developers assuring that only vegetarian food would be served, opposition intensified over concerns that the project would affect the spiritual sanctity of the temple region.

Protests escalated when sadhus and priests announced a hunger strike against the project on February 12. Demonstrators argued that constructing a luxury hotel near Tirumala would disrupt the religious purity of the temple surroundings. In November 2024, TTD chairman BR Naidu led the board in passing a resolution urging the state government to revoke the land allotment, stating that commercial ventures near the temple would hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.

Along with canceling the Mumtaz Hotel project, Naidu’s administration has revoked permissions for two other commercial ventures—Vaishnavi Versatile (10.32 acres) and MRKR Construction Industries Private Limited (5 acres). “That’s why, be it Vaishnavi Versatile with 10.32 acres, Mumtaz Hotel with 20 acres, and MRKR Construction Industries Private Limited with 5 acres—all these three, we are now canceling the permissions. There should be no commercialization adjacent to the Seven Hills,” Naidu stated.

The Andhra Pradesh government has assured that the TTD will resolve the matter with developers by offering alternative land. Naidu emphasized that his government remains committed to protecting Tirumala’s religious significance and ensuring that no private entities are granted land in the temple’s vicinity.