RAJAHMUNDRY:As many as five to six crore pilgrims from across the country are expected to attend the 12-day Godavari Maha Pushakaralu (GMP), scheduled to be held here from July 12, according to GMP Special Officer K Dhanamjaya Reddy. Disclosing this to Express here on Tuesday, he said that the mega event would be so organized as to remain memorable for several generations. He said that the GMP would be akin to the Maha Kumbha mela, which occurred once in 144 years.
Stating that the government had sanctioned nearly `1,500 crore for various GMP-related works in East and West Godavari districts, he added that 90 per cent of works had been completed so far.
Reddy explained that as ‘Pinda Pradanam’, ‘Tirdhavidhulu’ and holy dip in river Godavari were considered the most important rituals to be performed by the pilgrims during the GMP, the government had allotted 50,000 square feet for the construction of platforms in Rajahmundry and 41,000 square feet for the same purpose in West Godavari district for the pilgrims to perform the rituals. In this connection, he said that the Government had fixed the rates for the various rituals and added that 4,000 priests would be appointed for the conduct of the rituals. He said that identity cards would be issued to the priests and added that the district administration was making arrangements to guide the pilgrims to the various bathing ghats.
Reddy said that the 10.5-km road between Rajahmundry and the airport would be developed as a four-lane road, with greenery, central lighting, etc. Also, the 1.20-km-long Kotilingalarevu bathing ghat would be developed as the longest bathing ghat in the country. The Saraswathi Ghat would be developed as a VIP ghat. A massive idol of Lord Siva would be erected at the ghat. The new road bridge across river Godavari would be inaugurated in the first week of July, he added
Reddy said that while the APSRTC would operate 1,500 special buses to transport pilgrims from across the state, 300 city buses would also be pressed into service to ferry them to various places in the city free of cost during the GMP. Meanwhile, the South Central Railway is also making arrangements to operate special trains along with setting up additional booking counters at various places.
