Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation authorities are coming up with grand plans to promote temple tourism in East Godavari, and are on the look out for temple lands to promote amenities for tourists. They have identified lands located either on the premises of temples or in the vicinity at Bhimavaram, Samalkota, Sarpavaram, Kakinada, Pitapuram, Draksharama, Antarvedi and Sakhinetipalli in the district.

All these temples fall under the purview of the endowments department.

Tourism authorities intend to take temple lands on lease, initially for five years subject to extension, as per the norms of the endowments department.

Later, they will develop separate dormitories for men and women, VIP rooms, tonsuring facilities and other amenities like supply of potable water, construction of toilets and others required for visiting tourists.

Tourism authorities are taking up the project to get funds from the Central Finance Assistance scheme of the Centre to promote temple tourism in the district.

Once they are ready with proposals with regard to location of the temple, size of the area proposed for take over on lease, lease amount and details of amenities to be taken up, they will sent these to the Centre for clearance and sanction of funds.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation divisional manager, Mr R.V. Suresh Kumar Reddy said, “We are planning to execute the project as early as possible to promote temple tourism. We are at the initial stage of preparing project proposals and once we get sanction of funds, we will start execution of the works.”

Meanwhile, tourism authorities developed amenities at a cost of Rs.15 lakh recently at Dindi resorts in the district.

DC