River-front area to get a facelift

Vijayawada: After the development of ghats on the banks of Krishna river downstream of Prakasam barrage for Krishna Pushkaralu, the State government is now shifted its focus on the development of river-front area development.

Since the TDP government came to power, it was planning to develop river-front area. In this backdrop, proposals have been made for construction of a five-star hotel, convention centre, children amusement park, multi-level parking, retail commercial complex in front of Krishna river and adjacent to national highway in Krishna Lanka.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation(VMC), AP Transco, Water Resources department, APSRTC owns over 26 acres of land between VMC main office and Pandit Nehru bus station close to the National Highway.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the officials to develop the river-front area to attract tourists and for proper utilisation of government lands in the heart of the city.  

Every day more than 50,000 pilgrims visit the Durga temple. Besides, over 50,000 passengers travel by buses via Pandit Nehru bus station. If the river front area is developed, these pilgrims and passengers can visit the children's amusement parks, hotels and shopping complexes to be built near Rajiv Gandhi park.

The Amaravati Development Corporation (ADC) is the facilitator of the river front development project. Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) has been formed with the departments of ADC, the Transco, the RTC, Water Resources and VMC.

Lands belong to VMC, Transco, Water Resources department will be used for construction of a five-star hotel, convention centre, retail commercial complex, multi-level parking zone etc. These projects will be built under the PPP mode.

To give a major boost to the tourism, the state government has decided to give a facelift to the river front tourism. Amaravati Development Corporation has drawn the design for developmental works and has been waiting for approval from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The outlook of downstream of Prakasam barrage will be changed with construction of convention hall, a five-star hotel, restaurants and entertainment zone and retail parking complexes.

Rajiv Gandhi park is geographically located in important place and very near to Railway station and bus stand. Many play toys, arranged in the park nearly two decades ago, are in a dilapidated condition and has no use to visitors particularly children. 

Moreover, the VMC is also not developing the park for two decades. In this backdrop, proposals have been made for the development of greenery in the park.