Akhanda Godavari tourism plan a non-starter

Rajamahendravaram: The objective to implement the Akhanda Godavari Tourism project – linking all tourist places in East and West Godavari districts – is going at a snail’s pace.There is no progress in the eco-tourism, river tourism, sea tourism and spiritual tourism development in the two districts in spite of East Godavari district having many resources. Promise made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to develop river tourism in Rajamahendravaram at the time of Pushkarams to River Godavari is yet be translate into reality.

Highlights:

• Promise made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to develop river tourism in Rajamahendravaram is yet be translate into reality
• Tourism department is yet to decide on tourism packages
• A package linking the pilgrimage centers with tourist places is much needed

According to MP M Muralimohan, the state government had proposed to develop tourism in the district on the lines of tourism in Kerala making use of the natural beauty of River Godavari. It also set up Akhanda Godavari Tourism Development Corporation office here. However, lack of funds is a major reason for the lagging tourism development, he added. The only saving grace is existence of various tourism projects in the district -boat trip to Papikondalu, Dindi resorts, eco-tourism in Maredumilli, Korangi forests and boat trip in river Godavari at Rajamahendravaram.

However, projects are not taken up to expand the services. Not one boat had been sanctioned additionally to implement the Chief Minister’s promise of grooming the district as a hub of river tourism.
According to local legislator Dr Akula Satyanarayana, many people visit the district to admire nature’s beauty and that of river Godavari. But neither the Tourism development Corporation nor the Akhanda Godavari tourism officials have any packages to cater to the needs of the tourists. Of the total number of boats to Papikondalu, one or two belong to the tourism corporation. There is delay in implementing the plan to develop tourism in the district, but River Godavari offers many resources to develop tourism.
According to temple tourism director Ratna Kumar and RTC regional manager Ravi Kumar, tourism development to Papikondalu in Godavari River was attributed to private boat operators. Later, tourism department pressed into service its boats to Papikondalu. Dindi Resorts with 24 river-view rooms was developed in undivided Andhra Pradesh. A boating trip and night trip on River Godavari had been introduced.

However, the tourism department is yet to decide on tourism package for devotees visiting pilgrimage centers in the district – Draksharamam, Samalkot, Bheemavaram, Palakollu, Pithapuram Saktipeetham, Pattiseema, Antarvedi, Annavaram and Inavilli and so on. A package linking the pilgrimage centers with tourist places is needed. There was no progress on this score barring holding review meetings.

According to Tourism Development Corporation local manager Veerraju, there was no dissemination of information about places of tourist interest in the district. There is no publicity campaign on tourist places in East Godavari district. Those who are willing to travel to Papikondalu are mostly dependent on private boat services. Allegations are that the tourism development corporation is not deploying its own boats additionally to benefit the private boat operators.

There are many places of tourist interest where there is hardly any cottage for tourists. Complaint against the tourism development corporation is that, it is paying scant attention to provide tourist amenities. The tourism development corporation earns at least Rs 40 lakh an year at the rate of at least Rs 3 lakh a month through boat trips in River Godavari.
Developing tourism here would not only boos the revenue but also create livelihood for many.

By M Sri Rama Murthy