Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, declared that Tirumala would be developed as a global model of spirituality, combining pilgrim experience, environmental conservation, and modern technology. The announcement came as Naidu inaugurated a series of landmark development initiatives at the hill shrine, home to the world-famous Sri Venkateswara Temple.

Key Developments Inaugurated

Among the projects launched on Wednesday was the Pilgrims' Experience Centre at Vaikuntam Queue Complex-I, which gives devotees a virtual window into the daily rituals and pujas performed for Lord Venkateswara. The facility uses six DVR-based virtual reality systems and 3D technology to replicate various sacred locations in Tirumala. Naidu personally experienced the virtual darshan facility during the inauguration.

The Chief Minister also reopened the extensively renovated SV Museum, which was redeveloped by the TCS Trust at a cost of ₹104 crore. The museum now presents the glory of Lord Venkateswara through mythological narratives, the history of Tirumala, replicas of royal ornaments — including those offered by Sri Krishnadevaraya — and 3D models of crowns and ornaments used to adorn the deity. An AI-generated video presentation on the divine wedding of Lord Venkateswara, displayed on a panoramic screen, drew particular attention from the Chief Minister.

Additionally, 32 electric buses donated by Reliance Foundation and Bharat Biotech were flagged off for pilgrim transport within Tirumala. Naidu, accompanied by Reliance E-Mobility CEO Nitin Seth, Bharat Biotech Managing Director Suchitra Ella, Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman B.R. Naidu, and TTD members, travelled by one of the buses from Narayana Giri Circle to the SV Museum.

Pilgrim Insurance and Aadhaar-Linked Coverage

In a significant welfare initiative, Naidu announced that the TTD had decided to extend insurance coverage to every pilgrim visiting Tirumala. An Aadhaar-based online insurance scheme, to be implemented in association with LIC, will provide financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin in the event of a pilgrim's death within Tirumala. This marks one of the first such comprehensive pilgrim insurance programmes at a major Indian religious site.

Environmental Focus and Green Cover

Naidu underscored Tirumala's ecological significance, noting that the hill town has a 89.5% green cover and stressing the need to protect it as development proceeds. The integration of electric buses and the broader push for sustainable infrastructure signal an attempt to balance rising footfall with environmental preservation — a challenge that has grown more acute as pilgrim numbers have surged in recent years.

5,000 Temples and Global Expansion Plans

Looking beyond Tirumala, the Chief Minister announced plans to construct 5,000 Sri Venkateswara temples across Andhra Pradesh through the Srivani Trust. Requests for Sri Venkateswara temples in Mauritius and New Zealand have reportedly been received, with the government examining those proposals. The administration is also preparing an action plan to deploy Srivari Sevaks — volunteer devotees — in the state's education and healthcare sectors.

This comes amid a broader push by the Naidu-led government to position Andhra Pradesh as a destination for spiritual tourism, with Tirumala serving as the centrepiece of that vision. With infrastructure, technology, and welfare initiatives converging, the scale of Wednesday's launches signals that the state is making a long-term institutional commitment rather than a one-off upgrade.