The Andhra Pradesh government has announced an ambitious plan to construct 5,000 temples across the state within the next two years. The announcement was made by Chief Minister N.
Chandrababu Naidu during a review meeting of the Endowments Department held at the Secretariat.
According to the Chief Minister, the large-scale temple construction drive will be funded through the Srivani Trust, which operates under the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams system.
Naidu instructed officials to ensure that all 5,000 temples are completed within the next two years and directed them to establish a state-level committee to supervise and monitor the work.
The Chief Minister said every constituency in Andhra Pradesh could potentially build between 25 and 30 temples.
District administrations have been asked to coordinate with local public representatives and gather proposals for suitable temple locations.
The government plans to start the project using three standardised temple designs in order to speed up the process and maintain uniformity.
Naidu also made it mandatory that every new temple must include a compound wall and receive faster approvals from the concerned departments.
Apart from the construction of new temples, the Andhra Pradesh government is also focusing on the development of existing temple towns.
Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to prepare master plans for 22 major temples across the state.
The plans will include improvements in traffic management, parking facilities, accommodation, sanitation, cleanliness and other amenities for devotees.
Master plans have already been prepared for some of Andhra Pradesh’s most famous temples, including Simhachalam Temple, Annavaram Temple, Dwaraka Tirumala Temple, Srikalahasti Temple and Kanipakam Temple.
Officials have been asked to complete plans for the remaining temple towns as quickly as possible.