Plan To Connect Over 100 Major Pilgrim Centres Across Andhra Pradesh
Centre's rural job funds to be used for temple road works
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is stepping up its efforts to improve road connectivity to major temples in rural areas, with more than 100 prominent religious destinations being linked through 205km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 120 crore.
The initiative was taken up following directions from deputy chief minister and Panchayat Raj minister Pawan Kalyan after he noticed the difficulties faced by devotees travelling to temples. He says several devotees submitted representations seeking better roads to remote shrines.
The roads are being developed with funds from the Centre’s rural employment guarantee scheme, VB-G RAM-G and SASCI, with priority being accorded to roads connecting schools, temples, hospitals and agricultural fields.
As part of the centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, some Rs 30 crore has been allocated for roads that head for Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district. About 72km of roads sanctioned for the district are at various stages of execution.
Some 26 of the roads being developed under the temple-connectivity initiative have been completed and are ready for inauguration, while work on another 40 per cent has reached about 50 per cent completion.
Completed works include roads to the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Antarvedi, Ahobilam, the Sri Gattu Venkataramana Swamy temple in Madanapalle constituency, the Devaraya Nallagangamma temple, the ghat road to Pudyagiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple near Marripudi, Singirikona and the routes to Someswaram, Talupulamma Lova and IS Jagannathapuram.
Officials are making arrangements to open the completed roads through help from the deputy CM.
Several other projects, including the Vadapalli Kshetra Tirumala karakatta road taken up with SASCI funds, the Rs 3-crore road to Ardhagiri Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple, the roads in Tenali and Rayachoti constituencies, the Anjaneya Swamy temple road in Nidadavole and the Malleshwara Swamy temple road at Thotavaripalli in Puthalapattu constituency, are progressing at different stages.
Pawan Kalyan has asked officials to maintain high-quality standards and ensure that the roads provide durable access to devotees. He has also directed officials to personally inspect the quality of completed works during field visits. Plans are being prepared to extend road connectivity to more temples under the Panchayat Raj department.
