The prestigious Shilparamam that has been proposed in the city is pending for want of 20 acres of land, while the ropeway to the top of Indrakeeladri hill will be taken up only if there are no objections to it from the scholars of Aagama Sastras, Minister for Tourism, Cinematography and Information & Public Relations J. Geetha Reddy said here on Monday.
Talking to the press after participating in Praja Patham programme, the Minister said the Central government had sanctioned funds for Shilparamam in Vijayawada, but the project was pending because there was no land. The ropeway to the Kanakadurga temple would be considered after taking into consideration the “religious sentiments” associated with the temple. She recalled how a proposal to lay a ropeway to Tirumala was shot down by Aagama Sastra experts. The Minister said that she would send the managing director of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation to the city soon to take a decision on both these issues.
The Minister said that sanctions had been made for the development of facilities for tourists at Hamsaladeevi (the point of confluence of the Krishna into the Bay of Bengal), Kuchipudi, Kondapalli fort, Moghalrajapuram and also for the development of the Krishna-Godavari river circuit.
About resuming the mini train service on Gandhi hill, the Minister said that it was a task for the Indian Railways and, therefore, under the jurisdiction of the Central government. The Tourism Department would start correspondence with the Central government on the subject and pursue it, she said.
