Naidu to lay foundation for expansion of Venkateswara Swamy temple in Amaravati on November 27

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone on Thursday (November 27) for the expansion and development of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Venkatapalem in the Amaravati capital region. The ₹260-crore project, to be taken up in two major phases, aims to transform the shrine into a major spiritual and architectural landmark in the State. The Chief Minister will perform the traditional Bhoomi Puja to mark the formal launch of the works.

The first phase, estimated at ₹140 crore, includes construction of key components such as the temple prakaram (₹92 crore), a seven-storey Raja Gopuram, Arjitha Seva Mandapam, Mirror Hall (Addala Mandapam), Vahana and Ratha Mandapams, Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Pushkarini, and cut-stone flooring, together accounting for about ₹48 crore.

The second phase, costing ₹120 crore, will focus on developing the temple Mada streets, approach roads, an Annadanam complex, pilgrim rest houses, residential quarters for priests and staff, an administrative building, a meditation hall, and parking facilities. With the first stage of construction already completed, subsequent phases will begin following Thursday’s foundation ceremony, while tenders for the fourth phase will be invited soon.

The expansion was initially proposed by the earlier TDP government, which allotted over 25 acres along the Krishna river and began preliminary works before 2019. The succeeding YSRCP government scaled down the project, but the present coalition government has revived and fast-tracked it. The initiative is expected to reinforce Amaravati’s status as a cultural and spiritual hub of Andhra Pradesh while enhancing the temple’s architectural grandeur and devotional appeal, according to a release from the Information and Public Relations Department.