Tirupati, Sept 2026 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said Tirumala would be developed as a global model of spirituality, with a focus on improving the pilgrimage experience while balancing spiritual traditions with environmental conservation, public service and modern technology.
Speaking during the inauguration of several development initiatives at Tirumala, Naidu said the hill shrine has 89.5 per cent green cover and stressed that protecting its natural environment would remain a key priority.
Among the facilities inaugurated were the Pilgrims’ Experience Centre at Vaikuntam Queue Complex-I, the modernised Sri Venkateswara Museum and 32 electric buses provided by Reliance Foundation and Bharat Biotech.
The Pilgrims’ Experience Centre uses 3D and virtual reality technology to enable devotees to experience various daily rituals and pujas performed for Lord Venkateswara and virtually explore important locations across Tirumala. The Chief Minister personally experienced the virtual darshan facility through six DVR-based virtual reality systems.
Naidu also reopened the renovated Sri Venkateswara Museum, which has been redesigned by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to present the history and spiritual significance of Tirumala in a manner accessible to devotees.
Developed by the TCS Trust at a cost of Rs 104 crore, the museum features replicas of ornaments offered to Lord Venkateswara by various rulers, including Sri Krishnadevaraya, along with historical artefacts from different periods. It also houses 3D models of crowns and ornaments traditionally used to adorn the deity.
The Chief Minister viewed an AI-generated video depicting the divine wedding of Lord Venkateswara on a panoramic screen. He also took interest in musical instruments used by musicians in earlier periods as part of their service and devotion to the deity.
Later, Naidu flagged off 32 electric buses meant for pilgrims travelling within Tirumala. Along with Reliance E-Mobility CEO Nitin Seth, Bharat Biotech Managing Director Suchitra Ella, Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu and other TTD members, he travelled in one of the electric buses from Narayana Giri Circle to the SV Museum.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to provide insurance coverage to every pilgrim visiting Tirumala. An Aadhaar-based online insurance facility would be introduced in association with LIC. Under the proposed scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh would be provided in the event of a pilgrim’s death in Tirumala.
Naidu further said the government was planning to construct 5,000 Sri Venkateswara temples across Andhra Pradesh through the Srivani Trust. He said proposals had also been received for constructing Sri Venkateswara temples in countries including Mauritius and New Zealand, and that the government was examining them.
He added that an action plan was being prepared to expand the services of Srivari Sevaks to the education and healthcare sectors, indicating a broader role for volunteers in community-oriented initiatives.
The Chief Minister said the development of Tirumala would seek to combine spirituality, technology, environmental responsibility and service while preserving the hill shrine’s religious and cultural significance.
