Advanced technology to be used for safety of devotees and crowd management
Officials asked to develop a tourism circuit connecting major temples during Pushkarams
Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to conduct the Godavari Pushkarams on a grand scale from June 26, 2027 with devotion and ensure that devotees face no inconvenience. The officials informed the Chief Minister that advanced technologies would be deployed for safety and crowd management during the Pushkarams including AI-based crowd analytics, CCTV-based entry and exit monitoring, drone surveillance, QR-based vehicle identification and decentralised deployment systems.
The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of Pushkaram works being undertaken at a cost of Rs. 4,026 crore at the Secretariat on Tuesday. With only 10 months remaining for the Pushkarams, the Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the commencement and completion of all works. Officials informed the Chief Minister that the Finance Department had already allocated Rs. 899 crore for these works. A major share of the works is being undertaken by the Municipal Administration, Roads & Buildings, Water Resources, Energy and Panchayat Raj departments.The works include 1,869 in East Godavari district, 625 in West Godavari, 1,501 in Konaseema, 426 in Eluru, 321 in Kakinada and 190 in Polavaram district.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that around 4.86 crore devotees had taken holy dips during the 2015 Maha Pushkarams in Andhra Pradesh and an estimated 8 to 10 crore devotees are expected to attend the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams. It is estimated that nearly one crore devotees could take holy dips every day.To manage the expected crowds, arrangements are being made for a total of 440 ghats. Of these, 259 existing ghats will be developed and 181 new ghats will be constructed.The proposed ghats include 82 in East Godavari, 40 in West Godavari, 175 in Konaseema, 44 in Eluru, 88 in Kakinada and 11 in Polavaram district.
The Chief Minister said the Godavari region is home to several important pilgrimage centres and directed officials to develop a tourism circuit connecting major temples, including the Shakti Peetham at Pithapuram, four of the Pancharama temples, Dwaraka Tirumala, Annavaram, Vadapalli and Antarvedi.He suggested promoting homestays so that devotees visiting for the Pushkarams can also explore the region's tourist and spiritual destinations. He directed officials to provide speedy approvals for new hotel projects.The Chief Minister further directed officials to construct a convention centre in Rajamahendravaram for hosting various programmes. He called for invitations to prominent personalities from across the country and abroad to attend the Godavari Pushkarams.“This should be seen as an opportunity to showcase the uniqueness of the State and enhance its prestige,” he said, directing the Endowments and Tourism departments to formulate plans for large-scale cultural programmes, including events featuring Kuchipudi.He instructed officials to ensure that there are no potholes on roads in any of the six districts hosting the Pushkarams, including roads connecting the ghats. Roads should also be developed to facilitate visits to the Polavaram Project. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that no sewage enters the Godavari and to take strict action in this regard. He also instructed them to complete development works at Havelock Bridge and the nearby islands.
Arrangements are also being made to ensure uninterrupted medical services. Ambulances, first-aid facilities and medical camps will be deployed. Thirty temporary field hospitals will be established, along with associated laboratories.
Officials said 50 of the 260 gram panchayats located in Godavari river basin districts are proposed to be developed as Model Pushkar Panchayats.Muni Kudali in Seethanagaram mandal of East Godavari district has been selected as the pilot Model Pushkar Panchayat.Development works will include the Kovvur–Polavaram–Pattiseema road, BT road from Seethanagaram to Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, avenue plantation and beautification works, as well as road development from Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage to Kovvur.Proposals have also been prepared for the development of the national highway between Rajamahendravaram and Polavaram.To make the Pushkarams pollution-free, 487 green-energy buses will be deployed. In addition, 11 bus stations are being modernised. As part of safety arrangements 2,697 rescue boats will be kept ready.
The Chief Minister called for world-class and integrated arrangements covering infrastructure, transportation, sanitation, drinking water, medical services, security, accommodation and technology for the pushkaram.As several tributaries, streams and canals join the Godavari from its origin to its confluence with the sea, the Chief Minister suggested examining the possibility of conducting the Pushkarams under the theme “Akhanda Godavari”, symbolising the entire river system.
Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, BC Janardhan Reddy and Y. Satya Kumar Yadav, Godavari Pushkarams Special Officer, Municipal Administration Department Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar and other senior officials participated.
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