Riverfront area of Prakasam barrage to get a makeover

Vijayawada: After the development of ghats on the banks of Krishna river downstream of Prakasam Barrage for Krishna Pushkaralu, the state government now shifted its attention for the development of riverfront area downstream of Prakasam Barrage.

Since the TDP government came to power, the TDP mantra is river front development. 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 Krishnalanka.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, AP Transco, the Water Resources Department, APSRTC owns over 26 acres land between VMC main office and Pandit Nehru Bus Station close to the national highway.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu instructed the officials to develop the riverfront area to attract tourists and for proper utilisation of government lands in the heart of the city.

Everyday more than 50,000 pilgrims visit Durga temple. Besides, 50,000 passengers travel by buses via Pandit Nehru Bus Station. If the riverfront area is developed, these pilgrims and passengers can visit the children’s amusement parks, hotels, shopping complexes which would be built near Rajiv Gandhi park.

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

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

In order to give big boost to the tourism, the state government has decided to give a facelift to the riverfront. Krishnalanka highway area is always busy with pilgrims visiting Durga temple and bus passengers at the bus station.

Amaravati Development Corporation has drawn the design for the development works and is waiting for the approval of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

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

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

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