Picchikalanka to be made tourist hub

Rajamahendravaram: Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Department has devised an action plan to make Picchikalanka as a tourist hub in the State. Picchikalanka is located in the middle of River Godavari and its height was raised to 25 feet from the surface of river to avoid inundation at the time of floods. It was levelled with the sand dredged in River Godavari.

According to official sources, the government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 5.50 crore to develop basic infrastructure on the levelled Lanka to attract the investors. 

As part of it, the department is planning to construct a container restaurant, 10 bamboo huts, parking place, lighting and drinking water facility etc.  It was also proposed to start boat ride, star hotels, entertainment area, play area etc. Picchikalanka is located between Dowleswaram and Vijjeswaram. The development works were kept pending for several years and only last year the height of the bund was raised.

The project falls under Akhanda Godavari Project (AGP), which is aimed to develop tourist spots in an area of 60 km surrounding River Godavari. The government earlier sanctioned an amount of Rs 100 crore for executing AGP.

Picchikalanka is 20 km from airport and 9 km from Rajamahendravaram. Meanwhile, Mahindra and Mahindra Group and many big groups visited Picchikalanka to invest on tourism. Meanwhile, the department decided to provide basic needs.