Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced the cancellation of all tenders linked to the controversial Mumtaz Hotel project in Tirumala. The decision comes amid mounting opposition from religious groups, priests, and devotees who raised concerns over the project’s potential impact on the spiritual sanctity of the revered Tirumala region. During his statement, Naidu firmly declared that no Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) land would be permitted for privatisation. He criticized the previous government’s handling of the project, highlighting that the earlier administration, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, had approved the construction of the luxury resort near the sacred hills.
 

“You’ve seen the last government, when they gave permission for the construction of Mumtaz hotels, Devalok project, etc,” Naidu remarked. “They even changed the name, but we refused to grant permission for the project.” The cancellation follows public outrage and protests, including a hunger strike by priests and sadhus near Alipiri Srivari Padalu, a sacred site in Tirumala. Protesters claimed that allowing a commercial project near the holy temple would violate the spiritual purity of the region and hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. The controversial Mumtaz Hotel project traces back to a 2021 decision under the Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s 2020-2025 Tourism Policy. Under this policy, land was allocated for tourism development projects, offering incentives to private developers. Mumtaz Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of The Oberoi Group, was allotted 20 acres of land to construct a luxury resort featuring 100 villas, with an initial investment of Rs 250 crore.
 

Chief Minister Naidu revealed that The Oberoi Group had approached the government with a commitment to serve only vegetarian food to align with the region's religious values. Despite this, Naidu's administration rejected the proposal, emphasizing that no private businesses would be permitted near the sacred site. “The Oberoi Hotels came forward saying they would only serve vegetarian food, but still we told them strongly that no private entities will be allowed in this sacred place. We have stated that no permission will be given to private individuals in this area,” Naidu asserted. To offer a balanced solution, Naidu proposed providing The Oberoi Group with alternative land for their project. “We told them we’ll even give them alternate land. TTD will sort it out with them,” he added.
 

In November 2024, the TTD chairman, BR Naidu, passed a resolution urging the state government to cancel the land allotment for the Mumtaz Hotel project. The TTD board firmly opposed the commercialisation of the area adjacent to the Seven Hills, arguing that the sacred zone must remain undisturbed to protect its spiritual sanctity. “That’s why, be it Vaishnavi Versatile with 10.32 acres, Mumtaz Hotel with 20 acres, and MRKR Construction Industries Private Limited with 5 acres—all these three, we are now cancelling the permissions. There should be no commercialisation adjacent to the Seven Hills,” Naidu announced.
 

This move reflects the government’s commitment to preserving the religious sanctity of the Tirumala region while addressing the concerns of devotees and religious leaders. The decision has been widely supported by spiritual groups and local residents, who see it as a victory for cultural and religious preservation. The cancellation of the Mumtaz Hotel project reinforces the Andhra Pradesh government’s stance that commercialisation near sacred areas will not be tolerated. By refusing to compromise the spiritual values associated with Tirumala, Naidu has taken a firm step in safeguarding the region’s cultural heritage and protecting the sentiments of millions of devotees. With the Mumtaz Hotel project now scrapped, TTD and state authorities are working closely with stakeholders to ensure future projects align with the spiritual ethos of the Tirumala temple and its surroundings.