TIRUPATI: Srikalahasti, the ancient shivate temple in Chittoor district is for a makeover, with government contemplating `100 crore worth development plans including river front elevation.
The government has already prepared the master plan for the temple and the river front elevation. It recently conducted three review meetings and sought the opinions of respective officials on the works proposed at Srikalahasti.
Last week, AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu constituted a high-level committee in Vijayawada to implement the master plan. The committee will interact with the locals, shop owners and landowners near Srikalahasti temple and also on Naidupeta Road before undertaking the works.
A GO 338 was issued giving special powers to the committee for negotiating with the land owners, shop owners and house owners whose property would be demolished or acquired for widening and laying of connecting roads to the temple and to Naidupeta Road which, in turn, enables the commuters reach either Vijayawada highway or Chennai highway easily.
After having darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, many pilgrims, especially from Vijayawada and Chennai, prefer to visit other temples in the district like Srikalahasti. As of today, 25,000 to 30,000 devotees visit Srikalahasti every day, on an average.
The average monthly hundi collection of the temple is `1.5 crore and the revenue has crossed `90 crore mark. As per the master plan, 173 people will be affected by the development works. As many as 32 families are residing in the 20 houses that would be demolished for road expansion.