The newly appointed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of Chairman BR Naidu, held its first meeting on Monday at the Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala. During this meeting, the board passed several resolutions, one of which was a strong request to the Andhra Pradesh government to cancel the allotment of 20 acres of land near Alipiri for the proposed Mumtaz Hotel. The decision comes after growing concerns that the hotel project could hurt the religious sentiments of devotees visiting the sacred hill shrine of Tirumala.

The Mumtaz Hotel project, which was part of the state's 2020-2025 tourism policy, was approved by the previous YSRCP-led government. The project was meant to boost tourism and local employment by developing a luxury resort with 100 villas, dining facilities, and other amenities such as a spa, fitness center, and swimming pool. The development was planned to be built on a 20-acre plot of land and was expected to bring in an investment of Rs 250 crore and provide 1,500 job opportunities.

The TTD board, however, raised concerns over the location of the hotel, which lies on the route to Tirumala, a sacred site for Hindus. Chairman BR Naidu expressed that the proximity of a luxury hotel to the Seven Hills could detract from the religious significance of the area and hurt the sentiments of devotees who visit for spiritual purposes. In his statement, Naidu emphasized that the previous government’s decision to allot the land for the hotel contradicted earlier plans to preserve the sanctity of the region, including a previous proposal for a project called “Devalokam” initiated by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

The new TTD board argued that constructing a luxury hotel in such a sensitive location would be inappropriate, given the religious importance of the region. As a result, the board has formally requested that the Andhra Pradesh government return the land to TTD, which could potentially repurpose it for more suitable religious or cultural projects. This request follows a broader push from religious groups and local activists who have strongly opposed the hotel, calling it an encroachment on sacred land.

This issue has sparked a wider debate about the balance between religious preservation and economic development. While the hotel project was intended to contribute to the region's tourism and economy, the TTD's stance highlights the delicate nature of land use near religious sites, especially one as significant as Tirumala. The controversy continues to attract attention from various quarters, including political figures, religious leaders, and local communities, with all eyes on how the Andhra Pradesh government will respond to the TTD's request.