Chandrababu Naidu wants Godavari Pushkaralu to be held on par with Maha Kumbh: Andhra Minister

Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has stated that Godavari Pushkaralu will be conducted from July 23 to August 3, 2027.

Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has stated that Godavari Pushkaralu will be conducted from July 23 to August 3, 2027.

Replying to a question by TDP MLA Adireddy Srinivas and others in the Legislative Assembly on Monday (March 3, 2025), the Minister said that Chief Minister N. Chadranbabu Naidu’s vision was to celebrate Godavari Pushkaralu on a par with the Maha Kumbh Mela. The Chief Minister suggested moving forward with a solid plan and coordination between departments from now on.

Though there were two years left, as per the Chief Minister’s directive, a preparatory meeting for the Pushkaralu was recently held in Rajamahendravaram, where various issues were discussed. “During the 2015 Godavari Pushkaralu, we completed 307 works at a cost of ₹117 crore. We identified 145 ghats over a length of 3,625m and 98 ghats in West Godavari over a length of 2,452m. The construction and repair of ghats, water management, inflow, and outflow will be handled by the Irrigation Department, while the maintenance will be overseen by the Panchayat Raj Department,” he said.

In addition to the Irrigation and Panchayat Raj Departments, other departments such as Home, Endowments, Municipal Administration, R&B, Fisheries, Civil Supplies, and Tourism would also participate in managing the Pushkaralu. The Chief Minister had suggested that all these departments frequently conduct coordination meetings and move forward with proper planning to successfully and prestigiously organise the Godavari Pushkaralu, he said.

Rajahmundry Urban MLA Adireddy Vasu, Kovvur MLA Muppidi Venkateswara Rao, Mandapeta MLA Vegulla Jogeswara Rao, and Tadepalligudem MLA Bolisetti Srinivas raised several questions and made suggestions regarding the Pushkaralu.

Mr. Adireddy Vasu suggested that works like the construction of the 1.2-kilometre-long Kotilingala Revu Ghat be undertaken on a permanent basis.

Mr. Jogeswara Rao suggested that the Godavari Pushkaralu should not be limited to Rajahmundry alone, but also extended to the Konaseema region, which had many river branches and temples, to help distribute the crowd.