With just over a month for the Krishna Pushkaram to begin, the temple town of Amaravati is yet to dust itself. Lakhs of pilgrims are expected to converge on the temple town for the 12-day event, starting August 12.
Ill-prepared
Even after the town has been included in the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme, under which roads and drains will be developed with the funds given by the Ministry of Urban Development, there has not been much change on the ground.
The road leading to the temple town resembles a dust bowl. The mounds of gravel on either present a pathetic sight. As one enters the narrow road leading to the 125 feet Dhyana Buddha statue, one is appalled by the lack of a proper approach road.
The plight of pilgrims will be much worse as there is no provision for toilets at the major tourist site.
Works relating to the 1.3 km model ghat on the banks of Krishna river are yet to be completed. The Major Irrigation department has entrusted the work to a contractor, who has not stuck to the deadline.
District Collector Kantilal Dande has put the department on notice, and set a deadline of July 31.
The APSRTC Bus Station Complex is in a shambles, with broken tiles and no proper approach road.
“The A.P. government is keen on making brand Amaravati a global symbol, but the local authorities are not willing to put in extra effort,” said Amaravati Development Corporation president Jasti Veeranjaneyulu.
While work on a model ghat is incomplete, the bus station is a shambles
