Naidu Launches Rs 3,222-Crore Tirupati Pilgrim Makeover as Deverakonda and Rashmika Seek Temple Blessings
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has virtually launched projects worth Rs 3,222 crore to transform the pilgrim infrastructure of Tirupati and Tirumala, aiming to make the sacred region feel, in his words, like a replica of heaven. On the same week, Telugu film stars Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, who married earlier this year, visited the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple ahead of the release of their much-anticipated film Ranabaali.
🗳️ Naidu Lays Foundation for Rs 3,222-Crore Tirumala-Tirupati Infrastructure Push
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, 12 October, virtually laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 3,222 crore to be executed within the Tirupati Urban Development Authority and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams limits. Naidu presided over the ceremony from the Secretariat in Amaravati, joined by TTD Chairman BR Naidu, local legislators, and senior officials from both TTD and TUDA. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said the infrastructure being built in and around Tirumala must be commensurate with the sanctity of the region, and that pilgrims visiting Tirumala should come away feeling they have experienced a replica of heaven. Setting a firm two-year deadline for the works, Naidu instructed officials to award contracts exclusively to agencies motivated by a spirit of service and devotion rather than by profit alone. The largest component of the package is an Integrated Pilgrim facility, though multiple other infrastructure upgrades across the city and hill shrine are part of the ambitious programme, which represents one of the most significant investments in Tirupati's pilgrim-facing infrastructure in recent memory. [2]
🎬 Deverakonda and Rashmika Offer Suprabhata Seva Prayers Before Ranabaali Release
Telugu cinema stars Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna visited the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple on Tuesday, 13 October, to offer prayers during the Suprabhata Seva, one of the most auspicious early-morning services at the hilltop shrine. The couple, who married in February 2026, are awaiting the release of their upcoming film Ranabaali, directed by Rahul Sankrityan, with the visit forming part of the customary pre-release temple darshan that is a deeply established tradition in Telugu and Tamil film culture. The Tirupati visit followed a meeting the couple had with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay in Chennai the previous day, connecting two significant moments in a busy week ahead of the film's release. For devotees and film audiences alike, a visit to Tirumala before a major release carries both spiritual and cultural significance, as the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is regarded as among the holiest sites in Hinduism and draws millions of pilgrims annually. The presence of prominent public figures such as Deverakonda and Rashmika continues to reinforce the temple's centrality in the cultural and spiritual life of the Telugu-speaking world. [6]