Godavari pushkarams to drive mega infrastructure push across six districts: CM

Vijayawada: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that the state govt is determined to conduct Godavari Pushkarams 2027 on an unprecedented scale. He directed all departments to work in close coordination to transform the mega spiritual event into a landmark development opportunity for the entire Godavari region. The chief minister held detailed discussions with a ministerial committee and senior officials on the ambitious Akhanda Godavari Development Project and the arrangements for the Pushkarams, here on Tuesday.Godavari Pushkarams will be held from June 26, 2027.Emphasising that preparations should go beyond the immediate requirements of the religious event, Naidu said the infrastructure being created for the Pushkarams must become a permanent asset for the Godavari basin. He instructed officials to ensure that cities such as Rajamahendravaram emerge stronger and more modern, with long-term civic improvements that would support future growth and tourism.The chief minister reiterated the state govt’s commitment to completing the Polavaram project before the commencement of Pushkarams and dedicating it to the nation. He also directed officials to incorporate the field-level recommendations recently made by deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan during his visits to the Godavari region. Naidu directed officials to accord top priority to traffic management, sanitation, drinking water supply, crowd control and pilgrim convenience to ensure a safe, seamless and spiritually fulfilling Godavari Pushkarams.Senior officials explained that the Godavari flows for 212 km within the state, with the first Pushkar Ghat proposed at Gundala in Polavaram district. They said that new terminal ghats have been proposed at Antarvedi and Balusutippa in Konaseema district, Govalanka in Kakinada district and Narsapuram in West Godavari district. The state govt has decided to prepare a total of 525 ghats across six districts for the festival. While 288 existing ghats will be upgraded, another 237 new ghats will be constructed. The total length of Pushkar ghats is expected to increase from the present 4.5 km to nearly 9.9 km. East Godavari and Konaseema districts are expected to account for more than 150 new ghats.To handle the massive influx, proposals have been prepared for extensive investments in roads, Pushkar ghats, temporary shelters, sanitation facilities, drinking water systems and pilgrim amenities. About 1,660 works worth Rs 1,974 crore have been proposed in urban centres including Rajamahendravaram and Narsapuram under the municipal administration department.The Panchayat Raj and rural development department has planned 1,140 works valued at Rs 1,080 crore in rural areas. The state govt has already sanctioned 132 works worth Rs 211.97 crore. Ministers Narayana, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Satya Kumar, BC Janardhan Reddy, chief secretary G Sai Prasad, DGP Harish Kumar Gupta were present. GFX*State govt estimate that between nine and ten crore devotees will participate in the 2027 Pushkarams*This is almost double the turnout of previous edition of Pushkarams in 2015*Nearly one crore pilgrims are expected to turn up on peak bathing days of the 12-day mega spiritual event*The projections significantly exceed previous editions, which recorded 1.2 crore devotees in 1991, five crore in 2003 (undivided AP)*The first-edition of pushkarams after bifurcation of AP held in 2015 which witnessed a turnout of 4.86 crore*The highest single-day footfall touched 58.26 lakh devotees during the last Pushkarams.