Tourism spots in North Coastal neglected

VISAKHAPATNAM: Despite the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Developmen t Corporation (APTDC) chalking out plans in 2010 to turn a few picturesque locations in Paderu and Chintapalle mandals and the Buddhist sites in Visakhapatnam district into tourism spots, the plan has not materialized yet.It is not known to many that Chintapalle is the coolest place during winters where the temperature dips to minus 6 degrees Celsius.The corporation had decided to turn Paderu, Chintapalle mandals, Buddhist monuments, Bojjannakonda, Thotlakonda, Bhavikonda and Pavuralakonda in the district into tourism spots but the project has not yet taken off. The then collector J Shyamala Rao had directed the officials prepare reports for development of KD Peta, Matsyagundam and Etikoppaka but the officials have not started work.Speaking to Express, APTDC divisional manager of APTDC, RV Suresh Kumar Reddy said, Paderu and Chintapalle have a good potential to become tourism spots and attract tourists. "APTDC is making plans to develop various places in Chintapalle and Paderu mandals in public private partnership and provide employment to the tribal youth," he explained.A few weeks ago Union minister for tourism Subodh Kant Sahay had visited the Agency areas of the district and assured that he would take steps to turn the places into tourism spots, particularly the Buddhists sites. He felt that the lack of international air services to and from the district was a negative factor for the tourism sector.But, the APTDC is giving priority to Araku Valley and Anantagiri hills citing absence of good roads and proper connectivity as the main reasons for not developing Paderu and Chintapalle mandals.Srikakulam: The Srimukhalingam temple, which is an architectural beauty located 45 km away from Srikakulam, is languishing without proper road connectivity. Devotees from various parts of the state visit this temple during winter.The Buddhist site in Sarubujjili mandal, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), lies neglected, the ASI had unravelled bricks, pots, terracota articles, bangles, beads, stone and iron articles during its excavation in 2000. even a decade after its excavations, neither the APTDC nor the ASI has come forward to promote it as a tourism spot.Even Kalingapatnam, Bhavanapadu, Baruva beaches have the potential to be promoted as centres of sports tourism. There is a rush from Odisha and the state to visit these spots which lack basic amenities.Vizianagaram: The culturerich Vizianagaram is also neglected by the APTDC despite. The district boasts of the picturesque Eastern Ghats, heritage and pilgrim sites and the Thotapalli reservoir to cite a few.