Home NEWS Rushikonda Project: A Costly Government Dilemma in Visakhapatnam | Vijayawada News

Rushikonda Project: A Costly Government Dilemma in Visakhapatnam | Vijayawada News


Visakhapatnam: The state govt is yet to decide what to do with the swanky resorts developed on Rushikonda Hills, which cost about Rs 430 crore.
A visit to the Rushikonda structure, with its seven imposing blocks, presents an architectural enigma that defies conventional notions of a govt resort or tourist hotel.
Each block and its rooms, filled with grandeur and sophistication, evoke images of a corporate headquarters or a high-ranking govt office, rather than a place of leisure and relaxation. According to govt sources, significant modifications would be required to transform it into a viable tourist resort or even a private luxury hotel.
During his visit to Visakhapatnam two days ago, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu toured the project and made scathing comments about the previous YSRCP dispensation.
He announced that the state govt would soon open the project to the public, aiming to highlight the serious mistakes made by Jagan, similar to how they previously brought people to the Polavaram project during his tenure. In response, YSRCP defended the project.
Since the project’s inception in 2021, it has been a point of contention between TDP and YSRCP. When the previous YSRCP govt proposed Vizag as the executive capital, speculation arose about the project’s purpose, with accusations that it was being developed solely for the chief minister’s office under the guise of a tourism initiative. In fact, this new project coincided with the then YSRCP govt’s decentralisation proposal. Meanwhile, a case regarding alleged environmental violations related to the project is still pending in the High Court.
During his visit to Rushikonda, Naidu expressed astonishment at “such a colossal affair”. “It takes a lot of heart and courage to commit such a crime. I have travelled to many countries, but I have never seen a chief minister construct a palace like this while simultaneously harming the environment. Instead of spending 400 crores on irrigation in north coastal AP, Rs 430 crore was used to build this palace, as if he were a king or emperor. Rs 36 lakh was spent on each bathtub and Rs 12 lakhs on a commode. No one should celebrate the construction of this lavish palace, which has devastated the environment,” said the chief minister.
Former minister Gudivada Amarnath said it’s time the ruling dispensation focuses on serious issues instead of going in circles to criticise the previous govt.
“Naidu’s attempt to suggest that the Rushikonda buildings were constructed for YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, giving the impression that they are our leader’s personal property, is highly condemnable. If he intends to open the buildings for public viewing, Naidu should also showcase the temporary structures of the state secretariat, assembly, and other facilities built at an exorbitant cost by TDP, which are substandard and leak when it rains,” said Amarnath.
Meanwhile, maintaining the project is proving to be a costly burden for the govt. The luxurious building requires substantial manpower for upkeep, even when it is not in use, including plumbers, electricians, housekeeping, and other maintenance staff, which costs lakhs of rupees each month. Moreover, the heavy air conditioning and lighting systems consume significant amounts of electricity, leading to monthly bills in the lakhs.





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