Foundation laid for a LPG storage facility for TTD-OxBig News Network

In a significant step towards strengthening infrastructure to meet the long-term energy needs of the hill temple, Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board B.R. Naidu on Thursday performed ‘Bhoomi Puja’ for setting up a state-of-the-art 45 metric tonne LPG storage facility at Tirumala.

The facility being developed on the outer ring road, in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹8.13 crore in over 1.86 acres of land and completed in six months. 

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Naidu said that the IOCL has been a consistent supplier of LPG to the TTD since the past two decades and has now entered into a 30-year fresh agreement to ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG which  he said will be primarily used in the preparation of the famed Tirumala laddu prasadam and at its daily Annadanam (community meals) complex and added that the initiative is expected to save a projected ₹1.5 crore annually in operational costs.

IOCL Marketing Director V. Satish Kumar highlighted the corporation’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices. “IOCL is already constructing a ₹12.05 crore bio-gas plant near the Tirumala dumping yard. Of the 55 tonnes of wet waste generated daily, 40 tonnes will be diverted to this new facility, which shall generate around 1,000 kilograms of bio-gas every day,” he explained.

Several advanced safety and operational features will be incorporated at the LPG storage plant like — a 45 MT mounted storage vessels, 1,500 kg vaporizer, firefighting systems with sprinklers, dual water tanks, diesel generator, remote operating valves, gas leakage detection alarms, tanker decantation systems, CCTV surveillance, Gas Management System (GMS), Terminal Facility Monitoring System (TFMS) and Integrated Level Safety Device (ILSD).

Also present at the event were TTD Chief Engineer TVV Satyanarayana and officials from both TTD and IOCL.