The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Departments gear up for Pushkaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Departments gear up for Pushkaram

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 18. The Krishna Pushkaram are all set to turn into yet another mega event even as various departments are busy giving the final touches to the arrangements at all the 16 pilgrims centres spread over five districts abutting the river.

The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, will inaugurate the 12-day rituals by formally participating in them on the first day at Srisailam, Beechpalli and Vijayawada.

Three crore expected

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday after a review meeting, the Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, and the Major Irrigation Minister, P. Lakshmaiah, were confident that the event would be a grand success. The expected pilgrim turnout even by a conservative estimate was over three crores. They said Rs. 210 crores was being spent on the event.

The Ministers said in all 191 bathing ghats have been spruced up, 212 temples renovated, a foot over bridge completed at the Sri Durga temple in Vijayawada and roofed "Q" lines set up at Srisailam and other major centres.

Safety, connectivity

They said 3,000 expert swimmers and 628 field staff would be positioned at the ghats for the safety of pilgrims. A total of 28,000 police personnel would also be deployed to maintain law and order. The railways would run 360 specials and arrange 250 additional coaches connecting Vijayawada with various towns and cities while the RTC would operate 2,292 buses besides making arrangements for temporary bus shelters, booking and enquiry counters. The APTransco has installed additional transformers to ensure round-the-clock supply at the ghats and pilgrim centres.

Cultural programmes

The Tourism Secretary, S. P. Singh, said cultural programmes would be organised during the at Beechpalli, Nagarjunasagar, Srisailam, Amaravathi and Vijayawada. Package tours would also be organised. A national seminar would be held in `Heritage of Krishna river' at Vijayawada from Aug 28 to 30.

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