Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has laid the foundation for a Rs 260-crore project aimed at expanding and developing the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Amaravati, located at Venkatapalem today.

The project, which will be carried out in two phases, is expected to transform the temple into a key spiritual and architectural landmark in the state. The Chief Minister has requested that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) complete the construction of the Amaravati temple within two and a half years. The temple project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, estimated at Rs 140 crore, includes the construction of several key components such as the temple prakaram, a seven-storey Raja Gopuram, the Arjitha Seva Mandapam, Mirror Hall (Addala Mandapam), Vahana and Ratha Mandapams, the Anjaneya Swamy Temple, a Pushkarini, and cut-stone flooring.

The second phase, with an estimated cost of Rs 120 crore, will focus on developing 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. Before 2019, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government had allocated 25.417 acres of land for the temple project. However, the subsequent government scaled down the scope of the project. After the TDP-led NDA came to power last year, the decision was made to revive and expedite the project.