Durgesh Calls for Special Action Plan to Promote Tourism in Andhra Pradesh

 Vijayawada: Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh has mooted a special action plan to promote tourism in AP, with a target to attract Rs 25,000 crore in investment and construct 50,000 rooms.

The minister held a review meeting with the senior officials here on Tuesday. He underscored the need to give wide publicity to the state’s tourism centres by organising roadshows in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. He also called for plans to develop tent cities in 22 temples and Igloo-like houses.

The minister spoke on beautification of the Rushikonda beach in Visakhapatnam. In view of the steep rise in the number of tourists visiting the beach, he said security must be beefed up and cleanliness ensured. He advised the officials to demolish unused buildings and develop basic amenities for tourists. 

He asked the officials to work for development of Lepakshi and Lambasingi and prepare detailed project reports for four to five projects, for which sanction of central funds should be sought under various schemes.

Referring to the World Tourism Day on September 27, the minister asked officials to make necessary arrangements in a big way at Suryalanka beach. Basic amenities should be ensured for tourists going to Papikondalu and accommodation facilities at Perantapalli also.

On the Akhanda Godavari project, the minister sought top priority for the safety of tourists on the Havelock bridge across Godavari.

Durgesh called for completion of development works in an expeditious manner at NTR Beach and Uppada Beach in Kakinada and at temples like Simhachalam and Annavaram. He discussed development of the Thotlakonda, Amaravathi, Ghantasala, the Sanaya Buddha project, Nagarjunakonda and others as part of a Buddhist circuit. Central funds could be expected for this, he said.

The tourism and culture minister also discussed plans for developing a modern Paryatak Bhavan in Amaravati, saying the Centre would fund such a project too.