Vijayawada: HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh said that the temple town of Mangalagiri will be developed on the lines of Varanasi represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that they will give a complete makeover to the town with a slew of developmental projects.
Lokesh along with Union minister of state for communications and rural development Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar participated in launching several developmental works in Mangalagiri on Friday.
Speaking to the media, Lokesh said that the developmental works initiated at Sri Kasi Viswanath temple of Varanasi would be a model for them to develop the ancient the Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in the town. He said that they would also bring funds under Prasad scheme from Centre to take various developmental works in and around the temple.
He said that he had launched more than 100 developmental works in the constituency since his victory about 10 months ago and added that he would repay his debt to the people of Mangalagiri constituency with development. He said that they will take up works on modern parks, play areas, walking zones, community halls, rythu bazars, social welfare hostels, burial grounds, widened roads and traffic management system. He said that designs for several projects were completed, and they would launch the works by April.
Lokesh promised to resolve the traffic problem in Mangalagiri in 8 to 12 months. “After completing the seed axis road in the capital city, we will connect E-11, E-13, and western bypass to the National Highway. We will build a retaining wall and a 4-lane road in Sitanagaram and are preparing a traffic management design,” said Lokesh. He said that they were working overtime to complete the under-ground drainage, drinking water taps, and piped LPG connections and power lines works by May.
Lokesh said that the govt will grant house sites to about 5,000 poor people in Mangalagiri constituency soon after Ugadi festival. He said people who have been living on govt, Konda Poramboku, tanks and railway lands for decades, will get sites in a phased manner. Lokesh said that they have also requested the Union railway minister positively responded to their request to regularize houses in the railway lands and issue house-sites. He said that they have also got railway overbridge at Nidamarru gate thanks to the initiative of Union minister Chandrasekhar. He promised to take up 4-lane road and also started the works on retaining wall in the Sitanagaram as designs were already ready.
Lokesh said that they have also set up gems and jewellery park in the town and committed to help the local goldsmith. He inaugurated the modernized Sri Bhagwan Mahavir Gaushala and unveiled the statue of Bhagwan Mahavir. He appreciated the Jain community for maintaining Goshala. He said that they have also reopened goshala to be managed by Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. “We want to ensure no cattle is seen on the streets anywhere in the state. We will take the support of religious and charitable trusts to manage cattle sheds and goshalas,” said Lokesh.
