Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman B.R. Naidu announced on Wednesday that a formal proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The proposal to rename Tirupati airport has been sent to the civil aviation ministry, and the airport will be redesigned to reflect Tirumala’s aesthetics to rename Renigunta Airport in Andhra Pradesh as “Sri Venkateswara International Airport.” He said the redesign will embody the spiritual ambiance of Tirumala to reflect the divinity of Lord Venkateswara.
Speaking at a press conference, Naidu stated, “The airport will reflect Tirumala’s divine aesthetics. The proposal to rename it after Lord Sri Venkateswara has already been sent to the Centre.”
In other key developments, TTD is also planning to construct a Srivari temple in Bengaluru, pending land allocation from the Karnataka government.
In a push for green mobility, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Kumara Swamy has agreed to provide 100 electric buses to be integrated into Tirumala’s transport system, a move welcomed as a major boost to sustainable transport.
The temple body also plans to lease land in Tirupati to set up a CSIR laboratory to ensure the quality of ghee, water, and food used in temple offerings. This follows a 2024 controversy over the composition of Tirupati laddus, after reports suggested traces of both animal and vegetable fats—raising concerns over their purity.
Naidu also announced that Sri Venkateswara College in Delhi, established in 1951, will undergo comprehensive modernisation. A three-member TTD-led committee will address issues raised by over 200 contract lecturers before initiating new faculty appointments.
TTD’s Dharmic Projects Wing is launching several new initiatives, including:
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Priesthood training for members of backward communities
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Sadgamaya, a value education program for students
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Saubhagyam, a spiritual empowerment initiative for women on Varalakshmi Vratam
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Akshara Govindam for children
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Harikatha Vaibhavam, a revival of devotional storytelling
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Sanmargam for prison inmates
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Giri Janardhanam in tribal regions
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Vana-Nidhi, an ecological and spiritual awareness campaign
These steps reinforce TTD’s broader commitment to spiritual outreach, community upliftment, and environmental stewardship.
