Controversial Mumtaz Hotel project shelved: No commercialisation on Tirumala Hills, says CM Naidu

Tirumala: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced the cancellation of all tenders related to the controversial Mumtaz Hotel project adjacent to Tirumala Hills.

The decision to reject the tenders came following rising resistance to the construction of the luxury resort near the sacred hills, citing concerns over religious lines.

Speaking to the media, along with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman BR Naidu, the chief minister said that the previous YSR Congress Party government permitted Mumtaz Hotel adjacent to the Tirumala Hills.

“The permission for the hotel on 35.32 acres is being revoked. Commercialisation should be prohibited anywhere near the Tirumala Hills. However, they wanted to go ahead with just a vegetarian food menu even when private citizens are not permitted in this region,” the chief minister stated.

What was the controversial Mumtaz Hotel project?

The plan was to build a 100-room, 5-star hotel on a 20-acre plot by 2026 and add 25 rooms later under the brand ‘Trident’ at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore. The hotel was planned to be operational by March 2027, the CM explained.

The chief minister asserted that all the Seven Hills are owned by Lord Venkateshwara completely which should not be desecrated or used for commercial purposes.

He said that several such protests have been allowed in the past five years, and, to uphold the sanctity of Tirumala, the government has been keen on a purification process at Tirumala ever since it came to power.

35.32 acres was allotted to Mumtaz, Emaar and Devlok hotels’ construction

Permissions were accorded to Mumtaz, Emaar and Devlok hotels by allocating 35.32 acres close to the Hills, CM Chandrababu said, in an oblique reference to the previous YSRCP government.

The chief minister announced that the permissions given to these hotels are being repealed to stop commercialisation on the Hills.

Recalling the war waged when remarks were made that Tirumala does not have ‘Seven Hills’ but only ‘Five Hills’, he explained how he was targeted by 24 claymore mines when he was coming down the Hills after launching the Prana Danam programme. “No one can survive an explosion from 24 claymore mines but I did due to the glory of Lord Venkateswara,” the chief minister said.

Only Hindus needed in the TTD, says CM Naidu

“I request all employees of the TTD to come together and uphold the sanctity of Lord Venkateswara and stop anything related to personal gains on the Hills," the chief minister said.

Making it clear that all those working for the TTD should be Hindus, the chief minister said that those belonging to other religions will be provided opportunities elsewhere. “This is similar to how people from other religions do not work at Christian and Muslim institutions,” CM Chandrababu Naidu said.

TTD temples in all State capitals

The AP CM said that a decision has been taken to construct Lord Venkateswara temples in the capitals of all States. “We will soon write to all the chief ministers in the State about this project. The same will be done in other countries where Hindus are majority,” the chief minister announced.

Earlier, CM Naidu along with his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari, son and IT minister Nara Lokesh, Nara Brahmini and other family members visited Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Tirumala, for his grandson Devansh’s birthday.

Plans to construct Lord Venkateswara temples in AP villages

Observing that several villages in the State still do not have temples of Lord Venkateswara, CM Naidu also announced that a trust will soon be formed for mobilising funds for building these temples in the villages.

Anna Danam (food distribution) programme was launched during the late NT Rama Rao’s tenure and now Prana Danam (life donation) programme has been introduced, the chief minister said.

“As part of a third programme, we are planning the construction of temples in villages and their trust committees will be formed only for the service of God,” the chief minister said.

Maintaining that the funds mobilised through the trusts will be spent in a systematic manner, the CM made it clear that people encroaching on the land assets of Lord Venkateswara will be dealt with properly.