Muzrai temples’ revenue jumps by 5%, footfall by 3%
The revenue of temples operating under the Muzrai department increased by 5% in the 2023-24 nancial year, and footfall has also seen an increase of 3.7%. Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport and Muzrai, claimed that the increase was driven by the Shakti scheme, which o¥ers free bus travel for women in non-premium buses.
According to the department’s data, 1,93,62,851 devotees visited the temples in 2023. O cials say that women visitors were more, but the break-up was not available. The number of visitors stood at 1,86,81,815 in 2022.
The temples’ total revenue in FY 2022-23 was ₹708.86 crore, while in FY 2023-24, the shrines recorded a revenue of ₹744.29 crore.
There are 398 temples functioning under the endowment department. The major revenue of ₹709.32 crore has come from 205A category temples, with a 4% jump from the previous year. From the 193 ‘B’ category temples, ₹34.97 crore revenue was generated.
The revenue earned by the 25 major shrines alone in 2023-24 saw a substantial jump of 11% compared to the previous scal year. In 2022, the temples recorded revenue collection of ₹478 crore, and the revenue in 2023 was pegged at ₹539 crore. Between 201819 and 2019-20, the revenue jump was barely 1% owing to the pandemic.
From the top ten revenue-making temples, the endowment department has garnered revenue of ₹412 crore in FY 2023-24, which was ₹372 crore in the previous scal year. Kukke Subrahmanya temple in Sullia in Dakshina Kannada, which is the richest temple in the state, earned ₹146 crore in 202324. The revenue in the previous scal was ₹123 crore. The revenue has seen an increase of 18%. Kollur Mookambika shrine mopped up revenue of ₹68 crore in 2023-24 FY, and in the previous scal it was ₹ 59 crore.
Mr. Reddy said after the Shakti scheme was implemented, many women were travelling to the temples.
“This is a key reason as to why there is a jump of 11% in the revenue of 25 major shrines which have a good number of devotees. The increase in footfall also indicates that the free bus scheme has brought many devotees to the temples,” he said.
The Endowment Department has garnered revenue of ₹412 crore in FY 2023-24