Vijayawada: For the Krishna Pushkaralu-2016, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation alone has spent more than Rs 186 crore on various development works, including construction of roads, widening, footpaths, drains, streetlights, ghats, construction of community halls, improving greenery and beautifying the parks, said Mayor K. Sridhar, in a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said that they spent Rs 95 crore for widening and developing roads in the city and the remaining amount was spent on various other works. Mr Sridhar explained that they have undertaken works, including 56 roads, one auditorium, 10 Pushkar Nagars in the city and eight out of city, 2,800 temporary toilets, 285 tanks for drinking water supply, of two crore water packets and 12 lakh buttermilk packets and construction of 16 sheds for rituals ,along the ghats in view of the Krishna Pushkaralu.
He fsaid that Rs 30 crore was spent for sanitation, Rs 40 crore spent for ghats and Rs 12 crore on other works. He said that they divided the four main Pushkar ghats into 22 sub-ghats. To monitor these ghats, they would deploy 66 commissioners round-the-clock. He said that 190 sanitary inspectors and 18,000 sanitary workers would serve the sanitation needs during the 12-day event in the city.
He added that about 2,800 temporary toilets have been constructed for the pilgrims and 285 water tanks also constructed at identified places on the banks of river and also in the city at the bus stations, railway station and other satellite bus stations. Meanwhile, volunteers for Krishna Pushkaralu have been named as Pushkar Sevaka by the police and requested them to coordinate with the police department during the Pushkaralu to serve the pilgrims.
City commissioner of police Gowtham Sawang said that the police would provide necessary training to the Pushkar Sevaks on how to assist the pilgrims. While addressing a gathering of about 4,000 students from various colleges in the city, Mr Sawang appreciated the services rendered by the students in making the city poster-less. He urged the students to show the same spirit while serving the pilgrims.
