The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday approved its annual budget for 2015-16 projecting estimated revenue of Rs. 2,530.10 crore.
The major chunk of the revenue, as usual, is expected from the temple Hundi in the form of offerings made by the visiting pilgrims which is estimated to be around Rs.905 crore.
Interest on investments is the second major source of income with the estimates being pegged at Rs. 744.91 crore followed by the sale of special entrance, ‘Seeghra darshan’ and ‘break darshan tickets’ which are likely to fetch income of Rs. 215 crore.
In addition, the TTD expects to net an income of Rs. 200 crore from the sale of human hair, Rs.145 crore by way of sale of laddu and other prasadams followed by Rs. 98.50 crore from choultry receipts, Rs.50 crore through sale of arjitha seva tickets, Rs.37.39 crore by way of loans and advances to employees, EMD, security deposits etc besides Rs.119 crore by way of lease rents form hotels, shops, KKC receipts, engineering, toll gate, capital and other receipts.
The payments side shows a bulk outgo of Rs.681.24 crore towards corpus and other investments as against Rs.759.60 crore in the last year.
The next major outflow is Rs.482 crore towards salaries and wages followed by Rs. 308 crore towards procurement of material for temples and institutions.
Other major expenses include grants and contributions (Rs.202 crore), fixed assets and engineering works (Rs.150 crore), outsourcing expenses (Rs.183.65 crore), pension trust and gratuity trust payments (Rs.120 crore), Pension Fund contributions (Rs. 75 crore), electrical charges (Rs.55 crore), repairs and maintenance of fixed assets (Rs.64.70 crore), loans and advances to employees, EMD, security deposits etc (Rs.41.50 crore) besides Rs. 77.11 crore towards capital and other miscellaneous expenses.
Talking to The Hindu , TTD’s Executive Officer D. Sambasiava Rao said even though the estimates did not show any increase in the income derived from the temple Hundi pegged at Rs.907 crore, it was bound to increase considerably unlike in the previous years. “We don't want to amplify the figures at this moment”, Dr. Rao said.
