Tourism circuits to get face-lift

Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is putting all efforts to develop various tourism circuits in East Godavari district, which is having abundant resources in this regard.

In addition to the existing tourism projects, the union government's 'Swadesi Darsan Project' (SDP) strengthens the hands of APTDC in its efforts, which was aimed to provide basic infrastructure relating to the tourism sector. Under this project, an amount of Rs 35 crore was spent as against of Rs 68 crore that was sanctioned. APTDC is trying to complete the works by the end of September.

According to Akhanda Godavari Project (AGP) special officer R Bhima Sankaram, Hope Island, Kakinada; Corangi, Kotipalli, Adurru, S Yanam, Pasarlapudi and Appanapalli areas were selected under SDP.

As part of it, multiplex convention centres, three-star hotels and amusement park will come up by the Kakinada beach. Various categories of seating arrangements are being designed in Hope Island, Corangi sanctuary, mangroves areas, along with boating facility in the streams of river Godavari.

One Jetti along with a guest house is to come up on the banks of river Vasista at Pasarlapudi village. The tourists will be ferried to the famous Buddhist place, Adurru from Pasarlapudi and back. Boating facility in Vynateya river will take passengers upto famous pilgrim centre Appanapalli which also is a part of the project.

Five beaches-Danavaipeta, Kakinada, S Yanam, Antervedi in East Godavari district and Perupalem beach in West Godavari district will also be developed under SDP and plans are afoot to develop the beaches like in Goa. In addition to this, river front project also is taken up in Rajamahendravaram along with centuary old Havelock rail bridge on river Godavari. An amount of Rs 25will be spent in the first phase.

He further added, collector Karthikeya Misra is reviewing the work in progress of Kakinada beach once in a week and plans are afoot to acquire 50 acres in the beach. Twin Godavari districts are having abundant opportunities for river based, eco based and temple tourism projects.

Picchikalanka near Dowleswaram will be developed as a major toursit spot in an area of 46 acres, for which the lanka was levelled to a height of 19 metres upto existing river bund level.

New house boats, speed boats etc are also proposed and the cruize between Rajamahendravaram and Papi Hills also made an eye feast to the tourists. Projects such as SDP and AGP helps a lot in this regard. All the projects taken up under Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode.