Arrangements should be made to celebrate Godavari pushkarams as Kumbh Mela of South: CM 

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to make arrangements in advance to conduct the ensuing Godavari Pushkarams as Kumbh Mela of the South.

Steps should be taken for development of facilities like bathing ghats on the banks of Godavari on a permanent basis and plans in this direction should be prepared well in advance. Utmost priority should be accorded for the development of amenities at all major temples alongside Godavari in the State and officials should plan creation of basic amenities anticipating the rush of pilgrims for the pushkarams.

Special plans should be prepared to ensure that lakhs of pilgrims who are expected to take a holy bath during pushkarams are not put to inconvenience. Close coordination between the Tourism, Irrigation and Endowments departments is a must for taking up works and ensuring the success of the once-in-a-twelve year event.

The Chief Minister reviewed the preparedness of the departments for ensuring the success of the pushkarams with senior officials on Friday. The State government is planning to seek Central assistance in the form of a special package for development of amenities and the officials should accordingly prepare the list prioritising the works.

With Godavari pushkarams set to start from July 23, 2027, officials were directed to utilise the 22 months time to create amenities on a permanent basis focussing on development of temples.

Officials explained to the Chief Minister that Godavari river which enters Telangana from Maharashtra had banks stretching over 560 km and there would be need for setting up 74 pushkar ghats. Mr. Revanth Reddy instructed them to prioritise development of major temples starting from Basar to Bhadrachalam, including Dharmapuri and Kaleshwaram. Since pilgrim rush would be more at the major temples, officials should focus on development of pushkar ghats as the first priority. Plans should accordingly be prepared for taking up development works, including the pushkar ghats, on permanent basis.

This should be followed by development works on the Godavari banks in other places and works on pushkar ghats should be planned in such a manner that each of them would cater to flow of two lakh pilgrims a day. Accordingly, plans should be prepared for development of roads and advance steps should be taken to avoid scope for traffic problems on the ways leading to the pushkar ghats. Simultaneously, steps should be taken to ensure parking, drinking water and other amenities to scores of pilgrims expected to throng the State during the 15-day period.

Officials concerned were instructed to take up field visits of major temples from Basar to Bhadrachalam for planning and listing the development works in collaboration with the management committees of the respective temples as well as senior officials. Accordingly, separate plans should be prepared for all the major temples so that development works could be planned incorporating local needs. Consultancies with experience in planning Maha Kumbh Mela and pushkarams in other States in the past should be engaged in the development of pilgrim amenities.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to make use of the centrally sponsored schemes in making arrangements for pushkarams. Steps should be taken to identify works that could be taken up along with Central schemes like Swachh Bharat and Jal Jivan Mission and permissions from the Centre should be secured accordingly.