In a move that will benefit a large number of pilgrims, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, has decided to offer about 2.74 acres of land to the Railways to facilitate extension of Tirupati railway station.

The TTD took the decision to offer the land worth about several crore at its board meeting on Friday.

The land is situated on the south-east side of the Tirupati Railway station, TTD PRO Talari Ravi told PTI. 

The railway authorities, with a view to expand Tirupati station, have placed a request for the land before the TTD about two years ago, he said.

The land was earlier used as vehicle parking area of the a devotees.

Tirupati railway station is probably the busiest railway station in Andhra Pradesh handling about one crore pilgrims from across the country yearly, Ravi said.