TTD approves Rs5,142-cr for annual budget
The budget, a slight increase from Rs5,123-cr in 2023-24 was approved in a board meeting chaired by TTD chairman B Karunakara Reddy. Hundi kanuka (devotees' offerings) emerged as the largest source of funds at Rs1,611-cr
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Tirupati: The Trust Board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati on Monday approved a budget estimate of Rs5,142 crore for the year 2024-25. The budget, a slight increase from Rs5,123 crore in 2023-24 was approved in a board meeting chaired by TTD chairman B Karunakara Reddy. According to the budget highlights, hundi kanuka (devotees' offerings) emerged as the largest source of funds at Rs1,611 crore for the world-famous temple, maintaining the same level as the previous year. Interest receipts at Rs1,167 crore are the second-largest source of funds, showing an increase of Rs100 crore from 2023-24, followed by prasadams receipts (consecrated food) at Rs600 crore (compared to Rs550 crore) and an opening cash and bank balance of Rs347 crore.
Opening cash and bank balance declined by Rs180 crore when compared to the budget estimates of 2023-24. Other major sources of funds include darshanam (visit) receipts of Rs338 crore (compared to Rs328 crore in the previous year), loans and advances to employees, along with security deposits and others at Rs246 crore (compared to Rs146 crore). Other capital receipts at Rs129 crore, arjithaseva receipts Rs150 crore, accommodation and kalyanamandapams Rs147 crore, and kalyanakatta receipts Rs151 crore are also significant sources of funds for TTD.
In terms of fund utilisation, the temple body allocated Rs1,733 crore for salaries, an increase from Rs1,664 crore in 2023-24, followed by Rs751 crore for material purchases and an equal amount for corpus and other investments. The temple body estimated Rs350 crore for engineering capital works, an increase of Rs25 crore from the previous year, while engineering maintenance works expenditure has been estimated at Rs190 crore, compared to Rs150 crore. Other major allocations include grants to other institutions at Rs113.5 crore, HDPP (Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad) and allied project payments Rs108.5 crore, loans and advances to employees, along with security deposits, and others Rs167 crore, pension and Employee Health Scheme fund contribution Rs100 crore, and closing cash and bank balances Rs370 crore. TTD's contribution to the Andhra Pradesh state government has been estimated at Rs50 crore for the year 2024-25, which has remained the same as during 2023-24.
