Naidu For Putting Kadapa On World Tourism Map

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu pitched for the development of the Kadapa district as a world-class tourist destination.

In a review meeting with tourism officials on Thursday, the Chief Minister set a six-month deadline for the completion of Phase I works of the Gandikota project.

He asked the officials to hire consultancy services to introduce a ropeway, rock-climbing, a boating park, an amusement park, a shopping area, a resort and other tourist attractions under the project.

"This will not only promote tourism but also increase the passenger traffic at the Kadapa airport," he said.

He urged the officials to submit proposals to develop Kadapa into a major entertainment and adventurous destination.

He also directed the officials to hold a geological survey on the rocks at Gandikota, the Penna river, reservoirs and so on. It was also decided to construct a glass balcony at Gandikota on the lines of the one at Grand Canyon in the USA.

The Chief Minister said that the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD) had come forward for the development of the Ontimitta temple at an expenditure of Rs 20 crores, and directed the officials to complete construction works there before Sri Rama Navami next year. He also asked them to prepare a master plan for the construction of marriage halls, hotels and choultries there.

In addition, Tirupati should emerge as a lake city through the development of 100 ponds in the temple town, Vijayawada as a canal city and Vizag as a beach city, the Chief Minister said.

He directed the officials to ensure clearances within 21 days for companies that had already signed MoUs for the various tourism projects.

"Create milestones and update the progress of the projects to the dashboard," he instructed.

Naidu also suggested the setting up of a hospitality university and culinary institute on the same premises in Tirupati.

He also directed the officials to speed up construction of the convention centre spread across six acres in Rajahmundry.

Tourism Secretary Nirab Kumar informed the Chief Minister that they had designed a PPP-based model for the development of Kotappakonda. The official presented the working status of the tourism projects in various districts.

Apart from Nirab Kumar, Special Chief Secretary (Forests) S K Farida, Advisor (Communications) Parakala Prabhakar, Principal Secretary to CM Satish Chandra, Secretary to CM Sai Prasad, Kadapa district Collector Ramana, Superintending Archaeologist N Tahir and others attended the meeting.