Quick Summary
- Andhra Pradesh twenty Point Program implementation Committee Chairperson Lanka Dinakar has proposed securing UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Gandikota, known as the “Grand Canyon of India,” to Chief minister N.Chandrababu Naidu.
- A review meeting at Gandikota’s Adventure Sports Academy highlighted plans to make the site a world-class tourism destination, supported by ₹88 crore under the Special Assistance for Capital Infrastructure (SASCI) scheme. Additional funding from central agencies, state budgets, CSR initiatives, and private investments was also suggested.
- Recommendations include restoring temples with Archaeological Department approval, introducing ropeways and boating activities for adventure tourism, improving sanitation infrastructure and food courts, developing homestays and night-stay facilities, creating amphitheaters and museums showcasing local history/dynasties like Pemmasani clans.
- Current infrastructure serving 20,000 monthly visitors needs upgrades as it lacks hygiene and coherence; potential exists to attract over one lakh tourists per month with improved planning through a complete master plan instead of ad hoc development approaches.
- Of 1,100 acres handed over to A.P Tourism Development Corporation near Gandikota’s periphery – hospitality-oriented setups concentrated 50-acre-star-hotel earmarking accelerated implementation.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The pitch for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition could elevate Gandikota’s profile internationally while unlocking considerable economic benefits through tourism development in Andhra Pradesh-a region already rich but arguably untapped beyond immediate vicinity visitation footfalls frequency favor scope livelihood potentials stakeholders align-government-private skillful synergies foresight utilizing sanctioned access roadway cuts diluting interoperability gaps positive outward target benchmark collaborative env other-chair images :