District Collector A. Md. Imtiaz on Saturday asked the members of the Gandhi Hill Foundation to utilise the ₹5 crore funds allocated by the State government for beautification of the place and initiate works at the earliest.
The Collector visited the hill along with the Gandhi Foundation members and officials of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation.
He said the spot had historic significance as Mahatma Gandhi had held a meeting here during the freedom movement. He said over the years, the place had lost its sheen due to its prolonged neglect.
He wanted the officials to work together and bring back the glory of the place. Standing atop the hill, he said the place provided a panoramic view of the city with its main attractions like the Prakasam Barrage.
He asked the Gandhi Hill Foundation secretary Durga Prasad to utilise the ₹5 crore allocated by the State government to develop tourist amenities like a garden, a canteen and play area for children on the hill.
Proposals
Mr. Durga Prasad said a proposal had been submitted to the government for construction of a Gandhi museum, a telescope observatory centre, space museum, a library, development of the existing planetarium and buggies to take tourists up the hill besides a few other features. He said the foundation would start the works immediately on release of funds.
CEO of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati E. Nagireddy explained to the Collector the significance of the place and suggested that the information should be made available to tourists.
VMC Health Officer Iqbal Hussain, Vijayawada West tahsildar Ravindranadh and others accompanied the Collector.
