The haze is finally gone and a clear picture is emerging. The Gandhi Hill, a popular tourist attraction located at an elevation of 500 ft (150 m) above the main city of Vijayawada, is in for a facelift.
To develop the hill project at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 crore allocated under the Central Financial Assistance, local officials of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) have called for tenders to allocate works.
Perched on a hill-top behind the Vijayawada railway station in Tarapet area of the city, the Gandhi memorial is the first of its kind in the country with seven stupas and hence, the place is also popularly known by the name of Gandhi.
The memorial includes stone slab inscriptions of the Mahatma’s teachings, a library housing large collection of books, a planetarium and a toy train, all in a dilapidated condition.
“The first phase of the works will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 61 lakh. Restoration of the project includes upgradation of the existing planetarium, setting up of food courts and an amphitheatre besides replacing the remnants of the existing toy train with battery-operated buggies and illuminating the entire area. The library with a large collection of books will also be brought into use,” says S. Suryaprakasa Rao, Divisional Manager of APTDC.
The place has immense significance yet it was left in a neglected state for a prolonged period. On October 6, 1968, a 52-ft tall Gandhi stupa was unveiled here by then President Zakir Hussain. There are also seven other tall pillars, each one of 490-ft height. Considered a monument of Indian independence struggle, this place pays homage to the Father of the Nation.
This historic place also had served as the venue for the 1921 AICC meeting where Mahatma Gandhi called for prohibition. “The hill has a vast potential as a tourist spot. Its elevated location provides a panoramic view of the city. We also intend to develop the planetarium in collaboration with the Birla Science Planetarium in Hyderabad,” says Mr. Rao.
Restoration of the lost glory of the hill project is one of the several priorities of the APTDC.
