Deputy CM to lay foundation for Akhanda Godavari Project foundation

Rajamahendravaram: The foundation of the prestigious Akhanda Godavari Tourism Project aimed at showcasing the historical and cultural magnificence of Godavari region, will be formally held on June 19, announced by State Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh.

The ground-breaking ceremony will be jointly performed by Deputy Chief Minister Konidela Pawan Kalyan and MP Daggubati Purandeswari, with the support of the Central government, he said.

The Minister conducted a field visit on Saturday to oversee the arrangements for the upcoming event, inspecting key sites like Pushkar Ghat and theHavelock Bridge alongside district officials. He issued directions to ensure the smooth execution of the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Durgesh said the project is being taken up with a sanction of Rs 97 crore under the SASCI 2024–25 (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) scheme. The works will span across Rajamahendravaram, Dowleswaram, Kadiyam, Kovvur, and Nidadavolu, aiming for completion before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu. He said that the project will significantly transform several locations in East Godavari district, adding new dimensions of beauty and improved tourist amenities.

District Collector P Prasanthi stated that the 127-year-old Havelock Bridge, a heritage icon, will undergo beautification and modernisation. Proposed developments include waterfalls, glass bridges, a gaming zone, a space-themed park, an urban hot craft bazaar, hanging gardens, a hologram zoo, time travel experience zones, a rail museum, and an aquarium tunnel. These attractions are expected to position the location as a major tourism hotspot.

The Pushkar Ghat will also be further developed, and both the ghat and the Havelock Bridge will be integrated into a single dynamic tourist destination, she added.

Joint Collector S Chinna Rammudu, Municipal Commissioner Ketan Garg, RDO R Krishna Naik, Rajamahendravaram City MLA Adireddy Srinivas,and District TourismOfficer P Venkatachalam participated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deekshitula Subrahmanyam

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Deekshitula RV Subrahmanyam is a Staff Reporter with The Hans India, covering the erstwhile East and West Godavari districts, along with Alluri Sitarama Raju and Polavaram districts. A journalist with experience of over three decades, he began his career as a Telugu mofussil reporter in 1991. He writes extensively on politics, tribal affairs, rural development, tourism, development, and human-interest stories He is the author of the six-part Telugu prose Ramayana Sitarama Kathasudha and has received several literary and journalistic honours, including the JCI Young Writer Award, Vadlamudi Rammohan Rao Memorial Award and Madduri Annapurnayya Memorial Award.

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