Rushikonda structures’ use decision on Wednesday

Visakhapatnam: The state cabinet sub-committee on the Rushikonda structures is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the utilisation of the luxury palatial complex. The committee would propose the structures into a revenue generating asset.

It would propose to go for open auction of the structures or go for other options.The committee before meeting on Wednesday, it would visit the structures on the Rushikonda hill besides the Rushikonda Beach. The committee consisting of social welfare minister and Visakhapatnam district in-charge minister Dola Sri Bala Veeranjeaneya Swamy, finance minisrer Payyavula Keshav, and tourism minister Kandula Durgesh had reportedly submitted their recommendations.

After appointment of the committee, this is the sixth meeting, and the last meeting was held on Apirl 7 at state secreteriat.For context, the previous YSRCP govt constructed the structures atop the Rushikonda Hill by demolishing the existing Harita Resorts, the tourism department resort, with an estimated cost of around Rs 450 crore. Now, the govt is spending around Rs 20 lakh for the maintenance of the buildings, sources said.

They said that more than Rs 10 lakh for electricity and another Rs 10 lakh has been spending on house keeping, gardening among other maintenance activities.They said that a few global hospitality chains and others expressed interest to take over the structures. But nothing was done till date. The official utilisation and allocation of the Rushikonda buildings await final approval and directions from the CM Naidu and the cabinet.