Telangana State IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu inspected the ongoing arrangements for the Saraswati Pushkaralu at Kaleshwaram on Sunday. He inspected key locations including the VIP Ghats, Saraswati Mata statue, Jnana Teertham, bathing areas for devotees in the river, and the newly planned tent city. Later, he held a review meeting with officials.

Minister Sridhar Babu instructed that the entire town be adorned with decorative lighting to reflect a festive atmosphere throughout the 12-day Pushkaralu celebrations. The Saraswati Mata idol should be beautifully decorated with flowers, he said, and expressed displeasure at the incomplete status of the Pinda Pradhana Mandapam, reprimanding the engineering officials from the Endowments Department.

He stressed that strong security arrangements should be made for devotees attending the Harathi programs, and that temporary roads, queue mats, barricades, and warning sign boards be installed to manage the movement of pilgrims and avoid accidents near the river. He ordered the deployment of 50 trained swimmers and the readiness of country boats as part of safety measures.

The Minister highlighted that a tent city is being set up at Kaleshwaram for the first time during the Pushkaralu. He also directed the local bodies and Additional Collector to arrange streetlights and strip lighting from Mahadevpur and ensure no potholes are left on roads, instructing R&B and NH officials to carry out urgent repairs.

Lighting and sanitation arrangements at the temporary bus stand were emphasized, with specific instructions to deploy cleaning supervisors to maintain toilet hygiene every 30 minutes. On the power supply front, Sridhar Babu directed that electricity be drawn from Kataram and Beersagar, with six 125 kVA generators on standby to ensure uninterrupted supply.

He instructed the Endowments Department to install generators at the temple and 100-room choultry. Daily mass feeding (annadanam) was to be arranged for devotees, and mats laid near the riverbanks to prevent burns from hot surfaces. Additional staff from JNTU was deputed for coloring and decorative works.

The Minister directed officials to arrange cab services for pilgrims and to prepare a detailed traffic management plan.

Present during the inspection were Endowments Department Principal Secretary Shailaja Ramaiyer, Commissioner Venkata Rao, District Collector Rahul Sharma and senior officials from Irrigation, Panchayat Raj, RWS, Health, Roads & Buildings, and other departments.