Tourists on Way to Papikondalu Finally Allowed Glimpses of Polavaram Project

Vijayawada: Tourists taking boats along Godavari River to visit Papikondalu are now getting a rare opportunity to have a glimpse of the Polavaram Irrigation Project.

Previously, Polavaram project authorities had closed a stretch of the road leading to the boating point at Gandi Pochamma Temple, as the area had been bustling with project works to expeditiously complete various components of the project by the end of 2027.

Since then, Irrigation authorities have completed a majority of Polavaram project’s key components, like spillway, upper and lower coffer dams, and diaphragm wall. They have started work on the main earth-cum-rock-fill dam.

Tourists wanting to see the project can now reach up to the check post of the Polavaram project. From there, they can board buses arranged by the boat operators to visit the project site covering components like right side approach road, spillway and upstream cofferdam, before reaching their boating point at Gandi Pochamma Temple. As the upstream coffer dam is at a relatively higher level, tourists can have a glimpse of all major components of the project.

Polavaram project superintendent engineer R. Ramachandra Rao said, “We have given permission to the tourism boat operators to arrange buses for tourists to go through the project site. However, no tourist will be permitted to get down from the bus within the project site.

Water resources authorities maintain that they have taken the decision in the interests of tourists visiting Papikondalu during the holiday season. Authorities say the arrangement is only temporary and for the current season.

On the other hand, boat operators hope the turnout of tourists visiting Papikondalu will increase if they are also allowed to visit the various Polavaram project sites. During the last season beginning from October, nearly 35,000 tourists visited Papikondalu. This season, the number has already been reached.

Boat operators are hoping tourists will continue visiting up to July, when the flood season begins and boating services are halted.

Tourism boat owner G.V.V.S.N. Murali Krishna said, “We have for a very long time been demanding that tourists be allowed to have a glimpse of the Polavaram project. With authorities now granting permission, we expect more tourists to flow in, as they will also have the opportunity to visit Polavaram project sites, apart from the Papikondalu Hills.”

Infographics:

- Bad weather has led to boat operations to Papikondalu along the Godavari River being suspended on May 6 and May 7.

- It takes nearly 20 minutes for a bus to go through the Polavaram project site.

- Boat operators have to take prior permission from the Water Resources authorities to allow their buses with tourists through the project site.