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Tourism suffers as traffic curbs keep off visitors
Beautiful structures were built for bathing at these ghats and other facilities were also provided. The Punnami Ghat where VIPs are taking bath during the Pushkaralu is a special attraction in the city as the ghat is located upstream Prakasam Barrage and it is getting plenty of water not only for bathing but also boating in Krishna river.
Vijayawada: The State government has spent Rs 80 crore for the development of permanent ghats to promote River Front tourism at the Punnami Ghat, Durga Ghat in Vijayawada and Pavitra Sangamam Ghat in Ibrahimpatnam.
Beautiful structures were built for bathing at these ghats and other facilities were also provided. The Punnami Ghat where VIPs are taking bath during the Pushkaralu is a special attraction in the city as the ghat is located upstream Prakasam Barrage and it is getting plenty of water not only for bathing but also boating in Krishna river.
Unfortunately, more than 99 per cent pilgrims visiting the city for the Krishna Pushkaralu are not able to visit the Punnami Ghat due to the restrictions imposed by police. Lakhs of pilgrims visiting Durga temple are also not able to visit the Punnami ghat which is located just one km from Durga temple.
The Roads and Buildings department has completed four lane highway between Durga temple and Punnami Ghat for the convenience of devotees visiting the Krishna Pushkaralu.
The pilgrims can go from Durga Ghat to Punnami Ghat on foot in 15 minutes. But, they were not allowed to visit the Punnami Ghat. Citing traffic restrictions, the police erected barricades near Durga Ghat at the foothills of Durga temple and not permitting people to move towards Kummaripalem and Bhavanipuram where the Punnami Ghat is located.
The other option is the pilgrims have to go to Chittinagar, Sitara junction and can finally reach the Punnami Ghat. Due to increased traffic, the pilgrims are not able to go by the second route via Chitti Nagar tunnel.
Consequently, the objective of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to promote tourism in Vijayawada is not being fulfilled though development of River Front projects is top priority for the government.
More than 1,500 families were shifted from Bhavanipuram for the development of Punnami Ghat. China-based GICC has designed the Punnami Ghat and more than 80 per cent works were completed in the last six months. Even after spending crores of rupees, the tourists are not able to visit the Punnami Ghat.
K Sudhakar, a pilgrim of Eluru, said he was upset with the barricades and traffic restrictions in the city particularly between Durga temple and Punnami Ghat. Similarly, pilgrims visiting Durga temple are not able to visit Pavitra Sangamam Ghat due to same reason. The alternative route is passing via Chitti Nagar or Milk Project flyover route. These routes are very long and take more than two hours to reach during peak hours.
These restrictions are also forcing pilgrims to take bath in Krishnaveni and Padmavati Ghats downstream Prakasam Barrage where water levels are very low.
