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The Maharashtra government has approved the allotment of 395 square metres of prime land in Bandra’s Kherwadi to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) trust on a 30-year lease at a token rent of just ?1 per year. The plot, located in one of Mumbai’s most expensive neighbourhoods, will be used to develop a parking area, office, and information centre for devotees of Lord Venkateswara.
The TTD, headquartered in Andhra Pradesh, manages the Tirumala temple in Tirupati, considered the richest temple trust in India. The new project is intended to serve as a facility for the growing number of devotees in Mumbai and surrounding areas.
This marks the second time in recent years that the state government has allotted land in Bandra to the temple trust. In September 2019, it had granted the TTD 648 square metres in the same locality to build an information centre, ticket counter, and prayer hall. The newly allotted parcel lies just opposite the 2019 plot, effectively expanding the trust’s footprint in the area.
According to government officials, the new allotment comes with specific conditions. TTD must complete construction within three years and reserve 2,000 square feet of fully furnished space within the upcoming building for the district suburban collector’s office. This reserved area will remain the property of the state revenue department and continue to be owned by the government. The trust has also been directed to use the land strictly for the purposes approved in the agreement — namely, for religious and public utility functions associated with the temple’s activities.
“The land remains government property,” a senior official from the revenue department said. “TTD has been allowed to develop the site, but only for approved purposes such as an information centre and administrative space. After 30 years, the lease will need to be renewed in accordance with state policy.”
However, the decision has not been without controversy within government circles. Sources revealed that the state finance department raised objections during the approval process, citing the trust’s failure to meet conditions linked to its 2019 allotment. Under the earlier lease, TTD was required to complete construction of its proposed facility within three years — a deadline that has long passed. Yet, no building work has begun on the 648-square-metre plot.
“The finance department noted that one of the key terms of the earlier allotment — timely completion of the project — was not followed,” a senior official said, requesting anonymity. “This was pointed out while reviewing the new proposal, but the allotment was eventually cleared after discussions.”
Despite the concerns, the government decided to move ahead with the lease, citing the public service nature of the trust’s activities and its role in facilitating religious tourism and community services.
For the TTD, which has been expanding its presence in major cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai, the new Mumbai facility is part of a broader effort to make its sevices more accessible to devotees across India. Such centres typically serve as administrative offices, booking counters for pilgrimage tickets, and spaces for cultural and spiritual events.
For Bandra residents and local officials, the latest allotment brings both anticipation and scrutiny. Supporters see it as a way to improve amenities for devotees and enhance religious tourism, while critics question the repeated granting of public land to religious trusts at nominal rates, particularly when earlier projects remain incomplete.
As the TTD prepares to begin work on the new Bandra site, the spotlight now turns to whether it will finally deliver on both its 2019 and 2025 commitments — and whether the promised facilities for devotees, and the reserved space for the state government, will materialize within the next three years.
