TTD Board approves record ₹5,258 crore budget for 2025-26, up ₹79 crore from last year

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board, chaired by BR Naidu, has approved a ₹5,258.68 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26. This marks an increase of ₹79 crore from the revised estimate of ₹5,179 crore for 2024-25. The budget prioritizes temple renovations, land reclamation, pilgrim facilities, and financial allocations for temple-related projects across India and abroad.

According to budgetary estimates, TTD expects to generate ₹1,729 crore from Hundi offerings, ₹1,310 crore in interest from fixed deposits, and ₹600 crore from prasadam sales. Revenue from darshan tickets is projected at ₹310 crore, Arjitha Seva at ₹130 crore, accommodation and Kalyana Mandapam at ₹157 crore, and human hair auctions at ₹176.5 crore. Additional income sources include trust receipts (₹90 crore), rental and utility charges (₹66 crore), and publication sales (₹31 crore).

The expenditure plan includes ₹1,774 crore for salaries and human resource payments, ₹800 crore for corpus and investments, and ₹768.5 crore for material purchases. ₹350 crore has been allocated for engineering capital works, while ₹150 crore is set aside for maintenance. Other major allocations include ₹60 crore each for SVIMS engineering capital works and revenue grants, ₹130 crore in grants for various institutions, ₹121 crore for religious outreach programs, and ₹100 crore for pension and gratuity funds.

The board has approved financial assistance for temple renovations in Karimnagar, Kurnool, Dharmavaram, Talakona, and Tirupati’s Gangamma Temple. Land reclamation efforts include retrieving 20 acres from Science City, 15 acres from AP Tourism, and 33.5 acres from private entities for pilgrim-centric projects. Additionally, ₹26 crore has been allocated for renovating 12 non-VIP rest houses, and ₹1 crore has been sanctioned to upgrade Tirupati’s Srinivasa Sports Complex.

Other key decisions include introducing staff name badges, forming an Agama Salaha Mandali to oversee temple rituals, and identifying unauthorized shops in Tirumala for action. The board is also considering restoring the VIP Break Darshan timing to 5:30 AM and evaluating the feasibility of offline darshan for elderly and differently-abled devotees. Plans to construct Srivari temples in multiple state capitals and international locations are also under discussion, with a dedicated trust overseeing these projects.