Kerala Government Announces ‘Tirupati Model’ Development for Sabarimala, Guruvayur, and Kottiyoor Temples
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has announced a "Tirupati Model" temple development project aimed at the comprehensive growth of the state's major pilgrimage centers. The major announcement, included in the first budget of the UDF government, focuses on upgrading the infrastructure of religious institutions to international standards.
According to the budget, the temples at Sabarimala, Guruvayur, and Kottiyoor will be developed on the Tirupati model. The Chief Minister also stated that Sabarimala, Guruvayur, Kottiyoor, and Thiruvallam temples will be transformed into leading pilgrimage destinations.
The new model is intended to improve facilities for devotees and make development efforts more efficient at temples that have become heavily visited pilgrimage centers. The project will be implemented in its first phase with a focus on these three major temples.
The budget places special emphasis on the development of temples and related facilities. As part of this initiative, ₹5 crore has been allocated for the renovation of sacred groves (kavus) and temple ponds located near temples. In addition, ₹5 crore has been earmarked to provide the annual annuity payment due to the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The Chief Minister also announced measures to strengthen the functioning of the Malabar Devaswom Board and enhance its administrative powers on par with other Devaswom Boards in the state. To facilitate this, the government will formulate a separate set of regulations for the Malabar Devaswom Board, similar to those governing other Devaswom Boards.