Visakhapatnam all decked up for International Yoga Day celebrations

The main stage for the International Yoga Day celebrations being readied on Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

Hundreds of workers have been working tirelessly over the past week for the International Yoga Day celebrations in the city scheduled for June 21.

For the first time, the 28-km Beach Road stretch from Bheemunipatnam to RK Beach is being beautified for the mega event.

Workers have been instrumental in laying yoga mats along the route, installing decorative lighting at the key junctions, undertaking landscaping works, and maintaining sanitation, all playing a crucial role in readying the city for the global event.

K. Raju, a resident of S. Rayavaram in Anakapalli district, has been working with a team of workers to lay green mats along the stretch from Jodugullapalem towards Rushikonda and Bheemunipatnam. For the past several days, they have been putting in about eight hours of work each day, with a one-hour lunch break.

“When we were informed that the entire Beach Road needed to be covered with a green mat, we were surprised. But later, we realised the magnitude of the event in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate. Vizag is going to host a global event,” said Mr. Raju, adding that a thin transparent sheet is being placed over the mat to protect it from rain.

Meanwhile, many groups of workers have been engaged in painting grills, footpaths, and road medians along several kilometres, giving the entire stretch a vibrant look.

Separate teams have been trimming the overgrown saplings. Electricians have been busy installing lights and illuminations at the major junctions, ahead of the high-profile event.

Key locations such as Beach Road, Siripuram, All India Radio Circle, and Jagadamba Junction have been illuminated, giving a festive look to the city.

Satyanarayana, an outsourcing worker from Garividi in Vizianagaram district, is overseeing the erection of tents along the coastal stretch.

These tents will house medical camps, drinking water kiosks, helpdesks, and other amenities for the participants. “We’ve been working since last Monday and have already installed around 100 tents,” he said.

In addition, approximately 2,500 sanitation workers from the GVMC have been mobilised to keep the roads clean and well-maintained. For the past few days, these workers have been divided into teams, each under the supervision of a sanitary inspector, and working to keep the city ready for the big occasion.

Published - June 20, 2025 08:48 am IST