TIRUMALA: The Lord Venkateswara temple under construction in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, is nearing completion but faces a new challenge regarding a proposed temporary helipad on its 10-acre site.
The donor, Raymond Consumer Care Limited, has requested the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to consider developing a helipad on Plot No 3, Sector 12, allotted by the Maharashtra government through the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).
However, site engineers have informed Raymond that there is no provision or approval for a helipad in the commencement certificate issued by CIDCO.
Raymond has urged TTD to bring the matter to the attention of its management for a decision. TTD’s Chief Engineer noted in official files that a helipad could serve as an emergency service provision and a secure entry-exit point for VVIPs, significantly reducing travel time. However, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao clarified that the proposed helipad would not be part of the core temple construction but within the temple premises.
“No permission has been granted yet for setting up of helipad at Lord Venkateswara temple in Navi Mumbai, as we are evaluating all parameters, including Agama Shastras,” Shyamala Rao told TNIE.
Ulwe TTD temple may be a model for those to come in State capitals
The temple’s location near the Arabian Sea in Navi Mumbai poses accessibility challenges due to traffic congestion.
Local devotees argue that a helipad would significantly reduce travel time. “It takes hours to reach Ulwe and return due to traffic. With a helipad, we could visit Tirupati by air, have darshan, and return via evening flights from Mumbai,” said a Navi Mumbai resident. The Chief Engineer highlighted that Sector 12 and nearby areas host numerous helipads, suggesting the provision aligns with regional infrastructure. The temple project has already navigated several challenges.
Legal Challenge: In November 2023, B Nagaraja Kumar filed a case at the NGT in Pune, contesting the temple’s construction due to CRZ guidelines and requesting CIDCO to allot an alternative site. The NGT dismissed the case, allowing the appellant to file a fresh appeal, which is currently under trial.
Gas pipeline issue: A Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) gas pipeline runs through the site. Despite CIDCO’s intervention, RIL declined to relocate the pipeline. TTD scaled down the temple size and adjusted its location to avoid the pipeline and its 20-metre buffer zone. RIL issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) with conditions, enabling CIDCO to issue the commencement certificate. With these issues resolved, the temple is nearing completion.
If approved and constructed, the helipad would make the Navi Mumbai TTD temple the first globally to feature such a facility, enhancing convenience for devotees. The ancient Tirumala temple may soon add helipad management to its responsibilities.
The Ulwe temple is seen as a potential model for proposed TTD temples in State capitals across India and abroad, marking a significant expansion of TTD’s global presence.