The government of Andhra Pradesh is gearing up for the Godavari Pushkarams in 2027, planning to invest ₹580 crore in urban infrastructure projects. Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, P . Narayana, announced on Saturday that the Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (RMC) will utilize its existing ₹48 crore and seek additional funds through various Central government schemes.
During an inspection of ongoing infrastructure works at Pushkar Ghat,Narayana emphasized the need for comprehensive preparations ahead of the event. He noted that over 4.8 crore devotees participated in the last Pushkarams in 2015, with peak attendance reaching 60 lakh on the busiest day. For the upcoming event, the government anticipates nearly 10 crore devotees,with about 1 crore expected to take the holy dip on the peak day.
To accommodate this influx,the government plans to deploy a workforce of 15,000 sanitation personnel,a significant increase from the 8,000 deployed during the previous Pushkarams. Narayana explained that while infrastructure projects for the last event began only four months prior,preparations for 2027 are starting full year in advance.
“The available time will be sufficient to complete the infrastructure works and make comprehensive arrangements for crowd management and safety,” he stated. The Minister,accompanied by Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism and Culture,and local MLAs,inspected critical sites along Godavari River,including the proposed ₹15-crore underground cable network and a ₹22-crore riverfront development project.
Durgesh highlighted that under the ₹97-crore Akhanda Godavari project,a walking track is being constructed on the Havelock Bridge,linking the city riverfront with Bridge Lanka, island in Godavari. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility and promote tourism in region.
Following the site inspections, Narayana convened meeting at the RMC office to review proposed projects and funding strategies for the infrastructure works . He urged civic authorities to provide details regarding Transferable Development Rights (TDR) bonds that could be utilized to raise funds for these initiatives. RMC Commissioner Rahul Meena and Rajamahendravaram Urban Development Authority Chairman Boddu Venkataramana Chowdary were among the officials present at the meeting.
