Godavari Pushkaralu 2027: Telangana plans Rs 1,000 crore works at 67 centres

Hyderabad: The Telangana government planned works worth Rs 1,000 crore across departments for Godavari Pushkaralu 2027. A Cabinet sub-committee directed officials to complete all facilities before the festival began on June 26, 2027.

The Pushkaralu would continue until July 7, 2027. The government planned to develop 67 centres along the Godavari into Pushkar ghats in three stages. The centres would cover Nizamabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Jagtial and Peddapalli districts. They would also cover Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts.

Cabinet sub-committee convener and Endowments Principal Secretary Shailaja Ramaiyer briefed ministers about the proposed works and the 67 centres. The government aimed to provide pilgrims with sanitation, drinking water, electricity, transport, security and medical facilities. Moreover, departments would develop ghats and improve road connectivity.

Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 works to be tracked on dashboard

Cabinet sub-committee chairman and Minister D. Sridhar Babu chaired the review meeting on preparations. Ministers Konda Surekha, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar, Vivek Venkataswamy, Adluri Laxman and Seethakka attended. Government adviser Sudarshan Reddy and senior officials also participated.

The ministers reviewed coordination among departments and infrastructure required for pilgrims. Officials from Endowments, Roads and Buildings, Irrigation, Police and Tourism briefed the committee. TGNPDCL, Health, Panchayat Raj Engineering and Rural Water Supply officials also presented details of their works.

Sridhar Babu directed officials to regularly review progress on Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 works. If physical meetings were not possible, he asked them to conduct virtual reviews. He said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy regarded the Pushkaralu as a prestigious programme. Therefore, officials had to ensure that preparations had no shortcomings.

Sridhar Babu also ordered the creation of a dashboard covering department-wise works and their progress. The system would allow the Chief Minister to regularly monitor implementation. Several public representatives had sought special funds for Pushkaralu-related works, Sridhar Babu said. He added that the matter would be discussed with the Chief Minister.

Since Telangana had an extensive Godavari riverfront, all departments had to coordinate closely to conduct the festival on a grand scale.

Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 ghats to highlight spiritual heritage

Endowments Minister Konda Surekha asked officials to showcase the historical and spiritual significance of selected Pushkaralu locations. She proposed welcome arches and special decorations reflecting the importance of each religious site. In addition, she sought information boards and visual displays for pilgrims.

Surekha asked Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings and electricity departments to coordinate their works. She said departments should avoid duplicating projects. The minister also sought medical arrangements for pilgrims who developed health problems. She asked the Health Department to seek cooperation from private hospitals willing to participate.

Surekha also focused on preventing plastic pollution in the Godavari. Pilgrims would perform rituals such as tarpans and pind daan and break coconuts during religious ceremonies. Therefore, officials had to prevent plastic covers and other plastic materials from entering the river.

She asked departments to create awareness among pilgrims and promote alternatives to plastic. Furthermore, officials had to regularly remove plastic material that entered the water.

Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 plan includes crowd control

Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar asked Traffic Police to prepare for the arrival of lakhs of pilgrims. He also sought separate barricades and bathing ghats for VIPs and VVIPs. Police officials told the ministers that they were planning arrangements based on lessons from a previous crowd crush in Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Revenue and I&PR Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy asked Special Commissioner Mukund Reddy to begin publicity before the Pushkaralu started. Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao asked officials to complete convenient facilities at major spiritual centres along the Godavari. He specifically referred to Bhadrachalam and Dharmapuri. The facilities had to be ready before the start of Godavari Pushkaralu 2027, he said.

Transport, sanitation facilities planned for pilgrims

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed RTC officials to prepare for the expected increase in passenger traffic. He sought temporary bus shelters, passenger waiting facilities and parking areas. Moreover, places without permanent RTC bus stations would get temporary bus stations.

Officials also had to create passenger holding areas and parking facilities based on local requirements. Ponnam asked RTC officials to decorate bus stations in a manner that reflected the Godavari Pushkaralu theme. Minister Seethakka stressed early completion of roads, drinking water facilities, sanitation and toilets for pilgrims.

She directed officials to continuously monitor cleanliness around ghats and nearby villages. The departments had to follow a dedicated sanitation plan throughout the Pushkaralu period. Furthermore, officials had to make arrangements based on expected crowds at each ghat.

Seethakka also directed them to keep sufficient personnel and resources ready for immediate response during emergencies. She stressed quality in all Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 works and asked departments to complete them within the stipulated deadlines.

The Cabinet sub-committee directed departments to coordinate their works and finish the infrastructure before June 26. The government aimed to provide pilgrims with both spiritual ambience and essential public facilities throughout the 12-day event.