Ongole set for major infrastructure

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Prakasam district is poised for a significant infrastructure and tourism push, with a series of projects aimed at improving urban amenities, preserving local heritage and creating new employment opportunities.

A major step towards resolving Ongole’s long-standing drinking water problems was taken with the launch of the Rs 424.42-crore AMRUT 2.0 project by State IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh at Rangarayudu Cheruvu. The project seeks to provide the city with a round-the-clock drinking water supply.

Under the scheme, the city’s 35 distribution zones will be reorganised, while a 605.30-km new pipeline network will be developed. Direct water connections will be provided to 51,340 households, enabling residents to access a reliable supply of quality drinking water.

The project is expected to strengthen Ongole’s water infrastructure in line with the city’s growing population and future requirements. Lokesh said providing quality drinking water and better basic infrastructure remained a priority for the coalition government.

The minister also unveiled 20 statues of prominent personalities at the KIMS Hospital flyover junction, honouring individuals who made notable contributions to politics, social service, education, literature and the arts. An imposing statue of the famed Ongole cattle breed was also unveiled, highlighting Prakasam’s agricultural and cultural heritage.

The district is simultaneously set to gain its first internationally branded five-star hotel. Lokesh laid the foundation for a Radisson five-star hotel at Chadalawada near Ongole, with an estimated investment of Rs 100 crore by Ravishankar Group and Ravipriya Hospitalities LLP.

The 151-room hotel will feature restaurants, a premium bar, lounge, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre, besides more than 2,100 square metres of banquet and conference facilities. Its proximity to NH-16 is expected to make it attractive to business travellers, tourists and investors.