Patna, In a move that underscores growing inter-state cooperation on cultural and religious infrastructure, the Bihar government has transferred 10.11 acres of prime land in Patna’s Mokama Khas locality to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for the construction of a Sri Venkateswara temple.
The allotment, formalised through a 99-year lease at a nominal annual rent of ₹1, was communicated by Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit in a letter to TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu. The symbolic lease terms reflect strong political backing for the project from the Nitish Kumar administration.
The decision marks a significant expansion of TTD’s national footprint as the trust, which manages the country’s wealthiest Hindu temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, seeks to establish replicas of the Sri Venkateswara shrine in state capitals and major cities. Similar temples already operate in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kanyakumari, with projects under way in several other locations.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh welcomed the development, describing it as a boost to cultural integration and a boon for devotees in eastern India.
TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu thanked the Bihar government for its “exemplary gesture of cultural inclusivity” and confirmed that a technical team would shortly begin consultations with the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation to finalise the master plan and commence construction.
The Patna temple is expected to follow the architectural and administrative template of existing TTD-managed Sri Venkateswara shrines outside Andhra Pradesh, combining traditional Dravidian design with modern visitor amenities.
The allocation comes at a time when several state governments are competing to attract high-profile religious and tourism projects, viewing them as catalysts for local employment and long-term visitor spending.
