Andhra Pradesh State government has decided to develop the famous Gandikota tourist spot on the lines of Great Canyon in Arizona.

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh to replicate the Great Canyon tourist spot in Arizona near the Colorado River, in Gandikota in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed senior official of state tourism department here on Thursday, to prepare an action plan within six months to take up the development of Gandikota on the lines of Great Canyon tourist spot. He said that Gandikota has cultural and historical importance in the country. “On the one hand, there are rock formations, and on the other, River Penna, with big reservoirs around. This makes it possible to develop as a tourist attraction on the lines of Great Canyon project (GCP),” he added.

As part of this, a skywalk on transparent horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge is a tourist attraction. Apart from glass balconies, rope way, rock climbing, Botanical Park, amusement park, shopping area, restaurants would be part of the tourist development plan. The main objective of the project is to develop it into a major entertainment and adventure tourist destination. For this, “the chief minister said to get a survey done by Geological Survey of India.” The government has already sanctioned Rs 17 crore to lay an approach road to the Gandikota, and another Rs 1 crore for to lay road for rope way, from Mylavaram to ropeway point. Landscaping, boating facility, stay facility for the tourists should also be taken up immediately, the Chief Minister directed the officials.

And, centering the Tirupathi, a tourist circuit package covering Gandikota, Ontimitta, and famous Dargha in Kadapa should be promoted. The chief minister also said that the Tirmula Tirupathi Devasthanam Board (TTD) has come forward to develop lord Rama’s temple at Ontimitta with an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore, and also expressed its willingness to spend another Rs 70 crore for the temple development, Naidu added.