Special Officer Directs Officials To Expedite Godavari Pushkaralu Works

NIZAMABAD: State endowments commissioner and special officer M. Hanumantha Rao has directed officials to expedite preparations for the upcoming Godavari Pushkaralu and complete all works within the stipulated deadlines.

Hanumantha Rao, accompanied by district collector Ila Tripathi, additional collector V. Bhujangarao and other officials, inspected the Pushkar ghat at Kandakurthi, a prominent pilgrimage centre in Nizamabad district, on Friday.

He reviewed works being undertaken by the endowments, irrigation, roads and buildings, and Panchayat Raj departments and issued instructions to the officials concerned. He stressed the need for continuous monitoring of construction works without compromising on quality and directed officials to ensure adequate facilities for pilgrims taking holy dips.

The special officer reviewed department-wise progress on temple development and renovation, construction of new bathing ghats, repairs to existing ghats, roads, drinking water facilities, parking areas and a VIP ghat. He asked officials to learn from the difficulties faced during previous Pushkaralu and take preventive measures to avoid a recurrence.

Emphasising pilgrim safety, he called for comprehensive security arrangements, ramps on both sides of the ghats, watchtowers and checkposts to manage the expected influx of devotees.

Collector Ila Tripathi said works at Kandakurthi, Yamcha and other pilgrimage centres along the Godavari in the district were being expedited. The administration was regularly monitoring progress at Kandakurthi, where a large number of pilgrims and dignitaries were expected, she said.

As the Godavari was still flowing at Kandakurthi, construction of the new Pushkar ghat would take some more time. Work would begin once the water level receded and would be completed within two months, she said.

The collector added that other works were progressing as scheduled, with a clear action plan to complete all Pushkaralu-related works by the end of March.

Bodhan RDO Vijaya Kumari and officials from the Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings, Irrigation and Endowments departments accompanied the special officer during the inspection.