Work has begun on the beautification of Ramakrishna Beach as a part of the Beach Corridor project from Coastal Battery to Bheemunipatnam. While tenders have been finalised for the work at Ramakrishna Beach, Rishikonda, and Bheemunipatnam, work has been taken up along a 1.3-km stretch of Ramakrishna Beach from Coastal battery to YSR statue.
The work comprises beautification and creation of tourist amenities near the Buddhist sites Thotlakonda and Bavikonda. Parks will be developed opposite the arch at Thotlakonda and Rishikonda. The cost of the project, sanctioned by the Government of India, is Rs.44.5 crore of which Rs.9 crore has been released, AP Tourism Development Corporation General Manager (Projects) B.V.A. Krishna Murthy has told The Hindu.
“We are taking on board VUDA, GVMC and INTACH and are doing the work complying with CRZ norms,” he says. VUDA will take up landscaping and planting and GVMC will take care of water supply and electricity, he says. Along the 30-km corridor, besides lighting, greenery and pathways will be developed. This will lead to opening up of new beaches, says Mr. Krishna Murthy. Facilities like parking, shelters, change rooms etc. will be created at Rishikonda.
Adventure sportsVUDA will take up development of adventure sports atop Kailasagiri at a cost of Rs.21 lakh. The development of greenery on the Beach Road stretch alone will cost Rs.1.5 crore. GVMC also has been asked to give its estimates for power and water so as to release the amount.
Though the work was sanctioned in 2013 there were initial problems relating to planning and architecture. Mr. Krishna Murthy has said tenders have been called after sorting out the issues.
The idea is to create tourist amenities of international standard in Visakhapatnam, says Mr. Krishna Murthy.
