Rs 5 cr sanctioned for the development of Yelagandal Fort

Karimnagar: MP Ponnam Prabhakar said that the Tourism Ministry of the Union Government had sanctioned Rs 5 cr for the development of Yelagandal Fort (Quila) near here. Along with the journalists, the Karimnagar MP visited the fort on Friday and addressed the media. ``It is the responsibility of the Government and also of the people to protect ancient structures,'' he said. Yelagandal Fort was earlier flourished as the district headquarters. From the top of the fort, visitors can enjoy picturesque scenes including the Lower Manair Dam and reservoir, he said. The old road between Karimnagar and Yelagandal Fort would be developed and a bridge would be constructed to reach the location. Sound and lighting system would be introduced at the fort. The programme explains the importance of the fort to the visitors. Rooms for the convenience of visiting tourists and fountains would be developed, Ponnam said. The State Tourism Department would run buses to Yelagandal, Vemulawada, Dharmapuri and Kondagattu for the convenience of tourists. He asked the school managements to arrange for the visit of school children to the fort and other places. The MP thanked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA chair person Sonia Gandhi, Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi and Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu (who hails from Karimnagar) for sanctioning the fund. DCCB chairman Konduri Ravinder Rao, Agriculture Market Committee chairman Akarapu Bhaskar Reddy, former mayor D Sankar, Town Congress president Kanna Krishna and others were present at the press meet.