AP Government To Soon Take Final Call on Controversial Rushikonda Resorts
NDA government weighs hospitality model amid CRZ limits and proposals from top hotel brands
Vijayawada: The TDP-led NDA coalition government will soon take a final call on the controversial Rushikonda tourism resorts in Visakhapatnam.
“Any decision taken will be focussed on ensuring public benefit, while generating sustainable revenue for the state,” ministers Payyavula Keshav and Kandula Durgesh maintained on Wednesday.
They addressed media at the secretariat in Velagapudi in Amaravati after the third meeting of the cabinet sub-committee constituted to examine viable options for the use of the Rushikonda resorts. The structure had become a major issue ahead of the 2024 AP assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Senior officials, including special chief secretary (Tourism) Ajay Jain and APTDC managing director Amrapali Kata briefed the committee on the status of the proposals received with regard to the property. Social Welfare Minister Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy participated in the meeting virtually.
Ministers Keshav and Durgesh disclosed that proposals have been received from leading hospitality brands, such as Taj, Leela Palace, Atmos Core and FEMA. However, these parties have maintained that the existing structures are not fully suitable for hotel operations. They suggested additional constructions.
Mentioning the constraints, the ministers said the Rushikonda site spans about nine acres, of which construction is prohibited on seven acres under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The meeting at the secretariat deliberated on how best the two acres could be used without violating regulations.
Further, it has been decided that the last two blocks of the Rushikonda site will be retained for public use, including an art gallery and to hold cultural programmes.
Keshav and Durgesh said another review meeting will be held online on December 28 for deciding on the final proposals. These will be placed before the state cabinet for approval.
The ministers disclosed that the sub-committee has broadly agreed to move forward with the hospitality model, while adhering to international beach-front standards, drawing lessons from locations in the Maldives and Puducherry.
Keshav and Durgesh went on to criticise decisions taken by the previous YSRC government, alleging that they caused significant losses to the tourism department. They reiterated that a resort generating about Rs 7 crore annually had been demolished to build “a palace” that involves a monthly maintenance cost of nearly Rs 25 lakh, which the ministers termed as a “white elephant.”
They maintained that the state government’s objective is to make productive use of the available land and structures, ensure revenue generation, and make the property accessible and meaningful to the public.
