Proposals to convert Tirumala Tirupathi to a picnic sport opposed

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CPI(M) opposes revival of Tirupati Visitors Zone project

Tirupati | November 13, 2005 1:48:00 AM IST

 

The CPI (M) in Andhra Pradesh today strongly opposed the revival of the

Tirupati Visitors Zone project under which the state Tourism Development

Corporation would take up construction of a cable car to Tirumala and a star

hotel at Alipiri.

 

Talking to newspersons, Chittoor District Secretary of party K Murali feared

that the construction of a star hotel at Alipiri, downhill of Tirumala, would

enable the foreign tourists to indulge in ''unholy'' activities.

 

Similarly, construction of a cable car between Alipiri and Tirumala would only

throw several taxi and jeep crew out of jobs.

 

The state-owned road transport corporation, operating a number of buses to

the hills would also incur heavy losses, he pointed out.

 

He said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, at a review meeting on November

10 had given a direction to the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation

(APTDC) to take up the Rs 100 crore project for development of tourism in this

part of the state.

 

The Chief Minister had revived the proposal without condidering whether it

would be beneficial to the TTD, administrators of the world famous Lord

Venkateswara temple and the sentiments of the locals, he said and urged Dr

Reddy to withdraw the proposal.

 

The ''Vykanasa Agama'' advisory committee of the TTD had strongly opposed the

construction of a cable car citing ''Agama Sastras'' when the proposal was

earlier mooted. The proposal was then dropped after the former chief priest of

the Sri Venkateswara temple late Madambakkam Srinivacharya, one of the seven

members of the committee, strongly opposed it.

 

When contacted, the present 'Pradhana Archaka' of the temple Dr A V Ramana

Dikshitulu, who is also one of the seven members of the committee told UNI that

the TTD had so far not sought the opinion of the committee.