Rs 452 Cr Rushikonda palace in Visakhapatnam kicksup political slugfest in Andhra Pradesh

AMARAVATI: The opening of doors to the three-building complex atop Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam by TDP senior leader and Bhimili MLA Ganta Srinivasarao created a ruffle in political circles with the TDP blaming the YS Jagan Government of splurging money on a palace for personal gratification, and the YCP countering it by saying that the buildings belonged to the AP Government and not of YS Jagan.

Together with local leaders, TDP MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao inspected the Rushikonda buildings in Visakhapatnam. These buildings were constructed during Jagan’s regime flouting all the rules. The Palace was constructed after demolishing AP Tourism Department’s buildings flouting all environmental norms and was rumoured to be a gift to YS Bharathi Reddy who likes seaside palaces.

However, with the legal hurdles restricting YS Jagan from shifting capital to Visakhapatnam the construction of the massive complex was kept under wraps and the whole area was out of bounds for the general public and even political leaders like Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan.

Jagan Government constructed these buildings in the name of tourism development. The complex was inaugurated by the then Tourism Minister Roja just before the elections in a hushed manner. It was reported that Jagan planned to do Gruhapravesham (House warming) after the elections but fate has a different idea.

Symbol of opulence atop Rushikonda

With 12 bedrooms and a built-up area of 1,41,433 square meters the three palaces were built by carving the serene Rushikonda hills, the Jagan Government said to had spent Rs 407 crore of the estimated Rs 452 crore. In all, there were 12 bedrooms and some of the bathrooms were as large as 480 square feet.

The TDP had been arguing that if this was constructed for the promotion of tourism there was a need for meeting halls measuring 7,266 square meters. The first-floor meeting hall in Kalinga block had a chandelier that cost Rs 2 lakh. Many of the huge corridors had expensive imported marble and similar types of chandeliers. The Kalinga block also had a home theater with wall-to-wall screen.

The Gajapathi and Vengi blocks also had similar facilities. The Government had spent Rs 33 crore alone on internal decoration and another Rs 50 crore for landscaping. The complex including bathrooms had a central air-conditioning facility. A sea-facing dining hall, 12 beds in all bedrooms, spa facility in bathrooms were some of the special attractions of the Rushikonda palace.

Chandrababu Naidu to decide: Ganta

“Luxury buildings have been built here secretly. First, they said it was a tourism building and later they said administrative building. What did they do with Rs 550 crores of public money? YSRCP leaders were given this contract. We will show Rushikonda buildings to Chief Minister Chandrababu. The government will decide on these buildings. Construction estimates for Rushikonda buildings are kept secret”, Ganta Srinivasa Rao observed after visiting the palaces.

Pointing out that the YCP Government demolished Praja Vedika in Undavalli, citing a lack of permissions, the TDP MLA said that the Rushikonda Palace was constructed without any permissions.

Palace belongs to Government: YCP

These buildings were constructed keeping in mind the priority given to Visakhapatnam by the previous Government, a YCP statement said.

The YCP said that people have noticed the real intentions behind going to such Government buildings, taking photos, adding distortions, and resorting to mudslinging.“Chandrababu Naidu has been claiming that Visakhapatnam is the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh since 1995. He has been chief minister of the state four times. If a Prime Minister comes to Visakhapatnam, if a President comes, if a Chief Minister goes, if a Governor goes, there is no proper building to host them,” the YCP argued.

Going to Rushikonda Resort buildings, taking pictures, and showing off, will give TDP some mental satisfaction, but it would not benefit the people of Visakhapatnam, it stated.