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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Akhanda Godavari will give a boost to tourism: Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM : Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said the Akhanda Godavari Pushkara Project will boost tourism in the Godavari Region, besides providing direct and indirect employment to 8,000 people. Shekhawat, along with Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, laid the foundation stone for the `97 crore Akhanda Godavari Project at Pushkara Ghat in the city on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, he said the allocation of funds for the project under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme will be utilised for the development of the Havelock Bridge, Pushkara Ghat and other important places. 'Pushakara Ghat will become a major spiritual place in the country. Tent city will be set up in 120 acres of Bridge Lanka in the Godavari river, which is connected with the old rail bridge. Theme parks will be developed on the Havelock Bridge, showcasing the rich history of Rajamahendravaram,' he said. The Union Minister assured that Rajamahendravaram will get heritage tag soon. Shekhawat emphasised the potential of the tourism sector to generate employment opportunities, and contribute to the State's economy. Double engine govt is driving AP's growth: PK The Akhanda Godavari project will be completed swiftly, making it a renowned tourist destination in the country. A Buddhist circuit, eco tourism and infrastructure development also will be taken up. Andhra Pradesh will become a major tourist destination with the potential to attract 35 lakh tourists per annum by 2035. 'Plans are also afoot to develop Puttaparthi, Araku and other places in AP as major tourist destinations. We are setting up lights and sound show in Puttaparthi and Araku,' he revealed. He said, 'India is projected to get 3 billion domestic tourist visits, and 20 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025. India has made significant progress in the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index, moving from 54th to 39th place.' Pawan Kalyan said, 'Our State is achieving rapid economic development as there is a double engine government.' Ministers Kandula Durgesh and N Ramanaidu, MP Daggubati Purandeswari, MLAs Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary and Adireddy Srinivas, Special CS Ajay Jain, East Godavari Collector P Prasanthi and others were present.
Hans India
a day ago
- Science
- Hans India
Science centre to be named after physicist Swami Jnanananda
Rajamahendravaram: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday said that the newly inaugurated Science Centre at Bommuru, built with a cost of Rs 15.20 crore by the State Government, is likely to be named after renowned physicist Swami Jnanananda, who hailed from Goraganamudi village in West Godavari district. The science centre was inaugurated by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with State Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh and Rajamahendravaram MP Daggubati Purandeswari, in the presence of Pawan Kalyan. Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy CM said that the science centre will play a crucial role in promoting scientific curiosity and awareness among students. He said that the design was provided by the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, and the project was developed with the support of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Union Ministry of Culture. 'This Centre will stand as a milestone in promoting science and technology in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the Godavari districts,' he said. Union Minister Shekhawat, in his remarks, described Rajamahendravaram as the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh. 'Such institutions will help realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a developed nation during the Amrit Kaal,' he added. The dignitaries also launched the official brochure of the science centre and toured its various sections. These include a Water Resources Gallery showcasing models related to water issues and conservation, a Fun Science Gallery featuring interactive exhibits, a Planetarium offering a digital space experience, and an Innovation Hub designed to nurture student creativity. Additionally, a special exhibition on India's 75 years of progress in science and technology is also on display. An Activity Hall has been set up for workshops and demonstrations. East Godavari Collector P Prasanthi, Rajahmundry Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, Anaparthi MLA Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy, Rajanagaram MLA Battula Balaramakrishna, Kakinada Rural MLA Pantam Nanaji, MLC Somu Veerraju, NCSM Director General AD Choudhary, VIT-AP Director Saju Bhaskaran, Joint Collector S Chinna Ramudu, APCOST Member Secretary Prof Dr K Sharath Kumar, and Director Srinivas participated in this event.
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Rajahmundry will be in world tourism map in two years, says Shekhawat
Rajamahendravaram: Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, state tourism minister Kandula Durgesh, and Rajamahendravaram MP Daggubati Purandeswari laid the foundation stone for the prestigious Akhanda Godavari Tourism Project at Pushkar Ghat in Rajamahendravaram on Thursday. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 94.44 crore, aims to transform the region into a world-class tourism destination. Speaking on the occasion, Union minister Shekhawat said that the project will create over 8,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract 35 lakh tourists annually by 2035. He stated that the Centre had sanctioned over Rs 450 crore for various tourism projects in Andhra Pradesh through flagship schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD, SHAKTI, and Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD). Stressing the significance of Akhanda Godavari, Shekhawat noted that the project would elevate Rajamahendravaram to global tourism prominence by 2027, in time for the next Godavari Pushkaralu. He appreciated the combined efforts of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and minister Kandula Durgesh in shaping innovative tourism strategies. The funds under the SHAKTI scheme will be used to revamp heritage sites like the 127-year-old Havelock Bridge, developing it into a multi-functional tourist hub with theme parks along its 1.2 km span. Other initiatives include light and sound shows at Puttaparthi and Araku, cruise and cargo terminals at Vizag Port, and the modernization of Tirupati Railway Station. Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan noted Rajamahendravaram's cultural richness, naming iconic figures like Dokka Seethamma and poet Nannayya as its legacy. He stated that revamping the Havelock Bridge into a tourism site was a long-cherished dream of the people. He added that the coalition government is committed to the holistic development of Andhra Pradesh, and tourism is a major driver, with the potential to generate around 4 lakh jobs. MP Purandeswari promised efforts in Parliament to designate Rajamahendravaram as a Heritage Cultural Capital and ensure existing monuments are preserved during the riverfront development. She underlined the city's importance in India's tourism growth. Tourism minister Kandula Durgesh said the Akhanda Godavari project would include attractions such as the Havelock Bridge, Bridge Lanka, Picchuka Lanka, Pushkar Ghat, Kadiyam nurseries, Nidadavolu Kota Sattemma Temple, and the Godavari Canal, all to be developed as a single tourism circuit. District in-charge minister Dr Nimmala Ramanaidu criticised the previous government for stalling development and said the present coalition government is steering the state from destruction to reconstruction. MLAs Adireddy Srinivas, Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, MLC Somu Veerraju, collector P Prasanthi and others participated. Later, the foundation was laid for a new permanent building at the AP State Forest Academy at Diwancheruvu. Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan said a permanent building would be built with the ₹18 crore for the AP State Forest Academy. He said that the state government's mission to increase green cover to 23 per cent, as envisioned by CM Chandrababu Naidu. Minister Kandula Durgesh, MLAs Battula Balaramakrishna, RUDA Chairman Boddu Venkata Ramana Chowdary, SP D. Narasimha Kishore, and APFDC MD Dr R P Khajuria also attended the event.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Shekhawat lays foundation for Akhanda Godavari project
Union minister for tourism and culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Akhanda Godavari tourism project at Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district, aimed at transforming the historical city into a global tourism destination. Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan at the foundation stone laying event on Thursday. (HT photo) Addressing a meeting on the occasion, Shekhawat said the Akhanda Godavari project, under the Special Assistance for Capital Investment (SACI) scheme of the central government, would help turn Rajamahendravaram into a spiritual and cultural capital. 'The central government has allocated ₹ 95 crore for this initiative and aims to revive the historical Havelock Bridge as a multi-functional tourist hub,' he said. He further said the Centre had extended support to various tourism projects in the state under various schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD), and Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD). 'Under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, destinations like Araku, Borra Caves, Lambasingi, and Suryalanka Beach are being developed for eco and adventure tourism,' he said, adding that by 2035, the government was planning to attract 3.5 million tourists annually through the Akhanda Godavari project. The key components of the Akhanda Godavari project include transformation of the 127-year-old Havelock Bridge into a themed tourism park, development of Pushkar Ghat as a spiritual attraction with daily river rituals, creation of tent cities, boating facilities, and cruise tourism infrastructure, revitalisation of Kadiam nurseries and Godavari canals as experiential centres and integration with historical and religious circuits, including Annaram, Srisailam, and Gandikota. State deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan said Rajamahendravaram had a lot of cultural significance. 'The Godavari region has long dreamed of repurposing the Havelock Bridge for tourism. With ₹ 450 crore sanctioned for seven tourism projects, that dream is finally taking shape,' Pawan said. He also underlined the employment potential, noting that completed tourism projects across the state could create over 400,000 jobs. 'The double-engine government — a powerful coalition at the Centre and state — makes rapid development possible,' he said, thanking Shekhawat for his continued support on issues like the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Polavaram project. State BJP president and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari said she had already raised in Parliament the demand to declare Rajamahendravaram as a heritage city. She highlighted the central government's ongoing support for Andhra Pradesh's development under the NDA coalition and reiterated her commitment to reviving the region's historical and spiritual identity. State tourism minister Kandula Durgesh, who spearheaded the project, said the Akhanda Godavari initiative would integrate sites like Havelock Bridge, Kadiyam nurseries, Satthemma Temple, and the Godavari canal circuit. He personally thanked Shekhawat for approving the DPR and accelerating the project. 'Rajamahendravaram will emerge as a cultural capital. We will request the National School of Drama here and push for its recognition as a heritage city,' Durgesh said. East Godavari district in-charge minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and Rajahmundry MLA Adireddy Vasu, principal secretary (tourism) Ajay Jain and others took part in the event.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Akhanda Godavari tourism project launched in Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry: The Akhanda Godavari project aims to transform Rajahmundry into a vibrant cultural and spiritual tourism hub. The foundation stone laying ceremony of the Akhanda Godavari tourism project, to be taken up with a cost of Rs 94.44 crore, was held at Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry on Thursday, in the presence of Union minister for tourism and culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, MP Purandeshwari and minister Kandula Durgesh. The project is expected to be completed by 2027, providing direct and indirect employment opportunities to around 8,000 people. Minister for culture Kandula Durgesh requested the Union minister to set up national school of drama in Andhra Pradesh. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat praised the efforts of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and his deputy Pawan Kalyan in conceptualising projects for Andhra Pradesh's tourism development. He highlighted plans to develop Pushkar Ghat as a spiritual center and mentioned that nearly Rs 450 crore has been sanctioned for tourism development in AP under various schemes like Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD, SASCI, and CBDD. He detailed the initiatives taken under Swadesh Darshan 1.0 and 2.0, including the development of Kakinada Hope Island, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Pulicat lake, Myadu beach, Araku, Lambasingi, Suryalanka beach and Buddhist Circuit. The minister emphasised the govt's commitment to sustainable tourism development, providing adventure tourism experience, and enhancing spiritual tourism through the PRASAD scheme. The minister also mentioned specific projects, such as the development of Amaravati, Srisailam temple, Simhachalam temple, and Annvaram temple. Under the SASCI scheme, Rs 95 crore has been allocated for the Akhanda Godavari project, which includes transforming Havelock Bridge into a multifunctional tourist hub and developing Bridge Lanka. The project aims to attract 10 to 15 lakh tourists annually in the initial stage, with a long-term goal of reaching 35 lakh tourists by 2035. The minister expressed confidence in completing the Akhanda Godavari project swiftly. Additionally, the minister announced plans for a lights and sound show in Puttaparthi and Araku, development of cruise and cargo terminals at Visakhapatnam port, and modernization of Tirupati railway station. The Union minister assured that the govt would provide world-class infrastructure facilities under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The tourism sector contributed 10 per cent to the country's economy in 2023, and the aim is to increase the footfall of international tourists in India. The Akhanda Godavari project aims to transform Rajahmundry into a vibrant cultural and spiritual tourism hub. The project includes developing Pushkar Ghat into a spiritual destination, modernising the 127-year-old Havelock Bridge and restoring historical and cultural sites along the river. -
