Bathing ghats channel works gain pace

Vijayawada: Krishna Pushkaralu bathing ghats construction works and leading channel works are going on at a brisk pace at Krishnaveni and Padmavati ghats for the last few days.

Hundreds of workers are busy constructing the bathing ghat steps and laying the tiles. Heavy machinery is being used to complete the leading channel digging works by the end of July. It was a race against the time for the workers who are busy woring 24x7 in three shifts.

Minister for Water Resources Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, District Collector Babu A, Mayor Koneru Sridhar and Municipal Commissioner G Veerapandian are regularly visiting the ghats and inspecting the progress of works.

Steps are being constructed at Punnami Ghat and Durga Ghat upstream of Prakasam barrage and at Krishnaveni Ghat and Padmavati Ghat downstream of Prakasam barrage.

The irrigation department is digging the leading channel close to the Krishnaveni and Padmavati ghats for the convenience of devotees, to bathe in Krishna water comfortably.

The leading channel has width of 10 metres and depth of two metres. Cut off point is being erected for the protection of the pilgrims who take bath in the river.

Krishna water will be released to the leading channel for bathing. The leading channel has strong cement base, which will last many years. Nearly 20 heavy vehicles like dumpers, excavators, dozers and ready mix machines are being used for laying the leading channel.

The department is also constructing another ramp for passing of vehicles from highway to the Krishna riverbed where pilgrims can take bath. Elderly people and physically challenged can go the channels by vehicles like auto-rickshaws, cars and two-wheelers for bathing.

An official supervising the works said the leading channel and steps construction works will be completed by the end of July if there will be no rains. Rain is the biggest impediment for the speedy progress of the works.