An aerial view of the Tirumala temple.

CHENNAI

10 February 2020 22:32 IST

The construction of the replica of the Lord Venkateswara temple along with a Vedic School and Hospital to be completed in two years

The Jammu & Kashmir administration has agreed in principle to allot 100-acre land along the Jammu-Katra highway to the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams for constructing a replica of the Tirumala temple there.

TTD hopes to complete the construction of the temple along with a Vedic School and Hospital in two years time, MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy who led the delegation of TTD Board said on Monday. Talking to The Hindu over phone from Delhi, Mr. Reddy said two sites were identified as suitable for constructing the temple.

‘Long-pending demand’

​Acting on the instructions of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the team comprising TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal, Joint Executive Officer Basant Kumar and Board Member J. Sekar held discussions with the Union Territory’s officials and short-listed two sites at Dhummi and Majin in the Jammu district.​

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​“We also met the Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir and explained the details of our project. It has been a long-pending demand of pilgrims from many North Indian States visiting Tirumala that a replica of the temple be constructed in Jammu,” he said.​

Funded by devotees

Mr. Reddy said that funds for constructing the temple, a Vedic school, a marriage hall and a hospital would be raised from devotees and the TTD would also contribute, to the extent possible. Asked about security concerns in the newly formed UT, the Rajya Sabha Member said that Jammu was peaceful and there was no threat whatsoever. ​

“Jammu is a peaceful place. Life is absolutely normal and no untoward incidents are reported in the area. We have taken all aspects, including security, access to the site, availability of water and transport facilities into consideration before finalising the two sites. More importantly, the sites are located on the highway leading to the Vaishno Devi Temple,” he added.​