Hyderabad: The Telangana government planned elaborate arrangements for the Godavari Pushkaralu from June 26 to July 7, 2027, with a focus on pilgrim facilities, safety and infrastructure.
The Cabinet sub-committee decided to develop ghats along the Godavari and provide sanitation, drinking water, electricity, roads, transport, medical care and security.
It also directed officials to ensure that devotees arriving from across the country faced no inconvenience during the 12-day event.
Cabinet sub-committee chairman and Minister D. Sridhar Babu chaired a key review meeting on the preparations. Ministers Konda Surekha, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar, Vivek Venkataswamy, Adluri Lakshman Kumar and Seethakka attended.
Government Adviser Sudarshan Reddy and senior officials from several departments also participated. The ministers reviewed the proposed arrangements and progress of works under way.
Officials from the Endowments, Roads and Buildings, Irrigation, Police, Tourism, TGNPDCL, Health, Panchayat Raj Engineering and Rural Water Supply departments presented details of their works.
The ministers reviewed department-wise preparations for ghats, sanitation, drinking water, roads, transport, electricity, medical services and security. They directed officials to complete all works before the pilgrimage began.
The panel also stressed quality and coordination in the works. Officials were asked to create a clean, safe and spiritually appropriate environment for devotees.
Godavari Pushkaralu to cover 67 centres across eight districts
Endowments Department Principal Secretary and committee convener Shailaja Ramaiyer told the ministers that 67 centres along the Godavari would be developed as Pushkar ghats.
The centres were located in Nizamabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Jagtial, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts.
The government planned to develop the 67 centres in three tiers. Officials also informed the committee that various departments had taken up works worth ₹1,000 crore for the overall arrangements.
Sridhar Babu directed officials to review the progress regularly. If physical meetings were not possible, he suggested virtual meetings to monitor the works.
The Minister said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy considered the Godavari Pushkaralu a prestigious programme. Therefore, he directed officials to ensure that the arrangements had no shortcomings.
Sridhar Babu also ordered officials to create a dedicated dashboard containing department-wise details of works and their progress. The dashboard would enable the Chief Minister to review preparations periodically.
Several public representatives had sought special funds for the Pushkaralu arrangements. Sridhar Babu said he would discuss the issue with the Chief Minister.
He noted that the Godavari river covered a long stretch of Telangana. Accordingly, he called for coordinated efforts by all departments to conduct the Pushkaralu on a grand scale.
Endowments Minister Konda Surekha asked officials to highlight the historical and spiritual importance of the selected pilgrimage centres.
She suggested welcome arches and special decorations reflecting the significance of each centre. Information boards and visual displays should also explain the history and spiritual importance of the sites, she said.
Surekha directed the Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings and Electricity departments to coordinate their works and avoid duplication.
She also asked the Health Department to seek support from private hospitals willing to assist devotees requiring treatment during the event.
Environmental protection also figured in her directions. Devotees would perform tarpanam, pindapradhanam, coconut offerings and other rituals during the pilgrimage.
Surekha asked officials to create awareness about preventing plastic covers and other plastic items from entering the Godavari waters. She also called for alternative methods and regular removal of plastic waste from the river.
Minister Adluri Lakshman Kumar stressed traffic management as lakhs of devotees were expected to attend the event.
He asked traffic police to prepare for the anticipated rush. He also suggested separate barricades and bathing ghats for VIPs and VVIPs.
Police officials told the ministers that they had considered lessons from stampede incidents reported during an earlier event in Andhra Pradesh while planning the arrangements.
Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy directed the Information and Public Relations Department to begin publicity before the Pushkaralu. He asked Special Commissioner Mukund Reddy to start the campaign well in advance.
Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to complete arrangements at prominent spiritual centres along the Godavari. He specifically referred to Bhadrachalam and Dharmapuri.
Tummala also asked officials to anticipate the increase in pilgrim traffic. He sought temporary bus shelters, passenger waiting facilities and parking arrangements.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed RTC officials to establish temporary bus stations in areas without permanent facilities. He also sought passenger holding areas and parking spaces according to expected demand.
Ponnam asked officials to design the facilities according to passenger requirements. He also suggested beautifying bus stations to reflect the spirit of the Godavari Pushkaralu.
Minister Seethakka directed officials to complete roads, drinking water facilities, sanitation and toilets before the pilgrimage began.
She called for continuous cleanliness around the ghats and nearby villages. A special sanitation plan should remain in operation throughout the Pushkaralu period, she said.
Seethakka also sought crowd management arrangements based on the expected number of devotees at each ghat. She directed officials to keep adequate personnel and resources ready for immediate emergency response.
The Minister stressed quality in all Pushkaralu works. She instructed departments to complete the projects within the prescribed deadlines.
The Cabinet sub-committee reviewed preparations for the June 26, 2027 start of the Godavari Pushkaralu. Officials were directed to maintain inter-departmental coordination and complete the identified works before the pilgrimage begins.