President to open free-meal complex at Tirumala on July 7

Tirupati, Jul 4: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will inaugurate the Rs 33 crore Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's (TTD) mega free-meal complex located close to the shrine of Lord Venkateteswara at Tirumala near here on July 7.

Temple sources told PTI today that Patil would arrive on the hills on the evening of July 6.

After an overnight halt on the hills, the President would offer prayers at the ancient shrine -- also the country's richest -- on her marriage day on Thursday and would later open the jumbo free meal building constructed for the benefit of devotees by the TTD, the sources said.

Andhra Pradesh Governor, E S L Narasimhan and Chief Minister, N Kirankumar Reddy would also accompany the President during the visit, the sources said.

A thick blanket of security was being put in place in Tirupati, Tirumala and along both the 18 km long steep, winding roads up the hills and the road leading back into the city down the mountain, the sources added.

PTI