VISAKHAPATNAM: The new-look Visakhapatnam is ready to receive the IFR delegates. All the buildings on the Beach Road are going to be illuminated with decorative lights from Tuesday and the GVMC is giving finishing touches to the restoration works and other activities.
“Almost all the renovation works for the IFR event have been completed. There are some road markings, traffic island decorations, paintings, setting up toilets at several areas will be completed in a day or two. In some areas saplings have to be planted on Wednesday and Thursday which would attract visitors during the IFR,” said GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar.
All the parks, except the Gokul Park, along the Beach Road (from Park Hotel junction to Naval Coastal Battery) are ready. According to the commissioner, they have left the park after laying the ground at the request of the police. The park area will be used for sheltering policemen on duty during the event. Pravin also said that after completion of the event, works for the restoration of the Gokul Park would resume.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Museum would be opened most likely on Wednesday to public. It cost `1.5 crore to renovate the museum. The Navy has arranged new artefacts and the whole museum was given a makeover, including ceiling, new railing, LED lights and landscaped park. The GVMC officials have held talks with the owners of buildings along the stretch of the Beach Road.
Besides painting works, major buildings on the Beach Road will be illuminated with decorative lights giving the area a festive look. The IFR village was not open to the public on Tuesday as announced owing to unavoidable reasons. It would be open to the public either on Wednesday evening or Thursday after inauguration by CM Naidu.
Pending Works
A few works like planting saplings, painting traffic islands and road markings in some areas have been pending and are likely to be completed in a day or two.
Some works like restoration of Gokul Park and development of several areas have been halted by the GVMC for various reasons and would resume after the IFR. The restorations are expected to be completed in the next three months.
Beach Road buildings will be illuminated from Tuesday till the end of the event.
Maritime Museum likely to be opened to public from Wednesday.