HYDERABAD: With work on the development of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadagirigutta, about 60 km from here, going on at a brisk pace, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is drawing up plans for development of greenery and landscape at Peddagutta near the temple.
Yadagirigutta, renamed Yadadri, is the abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
It is a beautiful hillock in Yadadri district and the shrine perched on it is visited by thousands of devotees. The number goes up to a few lakh during festivals.
In view of the historical, religious and cultural significance of the temple, government constituted a special development authority, Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority (YTDA), under the Urban Areas (Development) Act, 1975 to ensure orderly growth and development of the temple and its surroundings.
To make the place a major pilgrim and tourist attraction, the government entrusted the HMDA with the project of augmenting the green cover and beautification of the area.
It is proposed to landscape the area within 500 metres from the main temple on the hillock at a cost of `15 crore.
To select a consultant, HMDA had invited tenders from architects and the deadline for submission of tenders ended on Saturday.
The bids will be opened shortly.
The selected consultant is to provide services including site appraisal and suitability, site planning, landform and grading, surface drainage design and water management, irrigation design, open space design-hard and soft areas, planting design including suggested plant species, landscape structures and features, garden furniture design, illumination, graphic design and signage.
The consulting agency will make field visits and carry out a reconnaissance survey to ascertain the physical aspects of the site, setting, characteristics, terrain, etc.
It will collect all necessary secondary data to carry out the study for which HMDA will offer assistance.
It will furnish a site appraisal report, and prepare conceptual landscape design with three draft designs, out of which HMDA will finalise one.
HMDA had previously developed the Jnana Saraswati temple at Basara in Adilabad district and some other temples elsewhere in the state on the directions of the government.