There are rumors that the Sri Venkateswara Aalayala Nirmanam Trust (SRIVANI Trust) would be at the forefront of the newly formed Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board’s agenda when it takes the oath of office on Wednesday. The SRIVANI Trust was created in September 2019 with the goal of allocating funds for the construction of new temples and the restoration of old temples in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Devotees who pay Rs 10,000 are eligible for a VIP break darshan ticket, which costs an extra Rs 500. As of January 2024, more than 10 lakh devotees have contributed more than Rs 1,085.84 crore, demonstrating the initiative’s widespread popularity. The Srivani plan has been criticized in recent months, despite the trust’s effectiveness in garnering support. There were claims that contracts were given out selectively and that money obtained via the trust was misappropriated.

Devotees and the general public still have questions about the usage of monies, despite the TTD administration’s June 2023 white paper providing clarification.

The SRIVANI Trust may be dissolved, according to TTD chairman appointment B R Naidu, who said, “There may not be a need for multiple trusts when one primary trust can fulfill the temple’s objectives.”

Because it may have an effect on future fundraising and temple construction initiatives, the board’s decision regarding the continuation or dissolution of SRIVANI is thus eagerly anticipated.

Determining TTD staff composition regulations, particularly whether non-Hindu workers should be allowed to remain in temple precincts, is another difficult matter that the board must deal with. Although TTD chairman Naidu said that he supports having only Hindu employees on temple property, he also stated that he intends to discuss this issue with the state government.

He said, “We must respect Tirumala’s status as a symbol of Hindu faith, but we will consider all legal and administrative options.”.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized the idea of a religious personnel strategy and called for uniformity among religious boards in response to his remarks, which have provoked public debate. In response to Owaisi’s comments, Naidu emphasized that TTD and the Waqf Board have distinct functions and shouldn’t be compared.

Along with these issues, the new board has a strong development strategy that prioritizes infrastructure renovations in accordance with state government directions.

Modernizing the guesthouses in Sudarshan, Govardhan, and Kalyani is one of the main suggestions, as is creating a central reception office (CRO) to handle the large number of guests.

Along with expediting construction on the gopuram (temple tower) at the Sri Balaji Anjaneya Swamy temple, which was first planned by renowned film art director Anand Sai, who is also a board member, plans are also in the works to build a new bus stop to enhance transit for devotees.

These significant problems will be discussed during the board’s first meeting, which will balance choices made by the Srivani Trust with personnel and infrastructural objectives to improve the pilgrimage experience at Tirumala. As the board takes on its duties, its choices may influence the administrative and spiritual course of the TTD for years to come.