‘Four iconic tourist centres will be set up in AP’

Reiterating the TDP-led coalition government’s commitment to develop Andhra Pradesh as the best tourist destination, Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh has announced that four iconic tourist centres will be set up. Besides,  eco-tourism will be developed at the famous hill shrine Srisailam.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Minister said that the Central government has come forward to allocate Rs 250 crore under the ‘Scheme for Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment’ to establish four iconic tourist centres in AP. Apart from the Central funds, the State government would allocate some more funds to establish the iconic tourist centres for Rs 400 crore,” he revealed, adding that each iconic centre will be established at a cost of Rs 100 crore. He also announced that Araku Valley and Lambasingi which have earned fame as Andhra Ooty, would be developed as adventure tourism centres.
The Minister further said that Eco-tourism and Spiritual Tourism centres would be established in the hill shrine Srisailam in the Nandyal district. Nandyala district is an ideal place to establish a Tourism Circuit since the district has Tiger Reserve forest and., waterfalls, the Tourism Minister asserted.   The second Iconic Tourist centre would be established in the name of ‘Akhanda Godavari’ in some areas in Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema, West Godavari and Eluru districts.
The third iconic tourist centre would come up in Bapatla district at the Suryalanka beach and the fourth Tourism Iconic Tourism centre would be set up in the Sangameswaram area in Nandyal district. “The Detailed Project Report (DPT) will be sent to the Central government on the establishment of Iconic Tourist Centres in the state on October 15. As soon as the approval is received, the works will begin,” the Minister mentioned.
Minister Durgesh explained that the famous hill shrine Annavaram would be developed at Rs 25.32 crore under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD). A temple package connecting Shakti Peethas and Pancharamas would be taken up by the APTDC, he informed. It is proposed to construct resorts in Tirupati, Gandikota and Picchukalanka and the Oberai group would take up the projects, he observed, stating that the Light and Sound show will be started in Chandragiri fort.
The Tourism Minister vowed to extend all help if anybody comes forward to construct film studios in AP.  He pledged to renovate the tourism centres which were devastated by the recent floods. The Berm Park, located on an island in the river Krishna, suffered a loss of Rs 12 crore due to the heavy floods and the renovation works would begin soon. The Minister disclosed that the Ministry is contemplating on how to use the Rushikona buildings in Visakhapatnam.
“The World Tourism Day programme will be organized in Vijayawada on September 27 in which Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan will participate,” he announced. Taking a dig at the Tourism Ministry in the erstwhile YSRCP regime, Kandula Durgesh alleged that the then Tourism Minister instead of focusing on the development of tourism in AP, indulged in accusing the Opposition parties.