Chief Minister likely to visit Visakhapatnam on April 30 to take part in Chandanotsavam of Simhachalam temple

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to visit Visakhapatnam for Chandanotsavam, inaugurating projects like Deck and helicopter museum.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is likely to visit Visakhapatnam along with his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari and family members to have a special darshan of Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on the auspicious Chandanotsavam on April 30. He is coming to the city to offer silk robes to the deity on behalf of the State government, according to sources.

During the city tour, the Chief Minister is likely to inaugurate some projects like an 11-storey multi-level car parking complex called `Deck’ at Siripuram, a UH-3H helicopter museum at RK Beach, and a Ratan Tata Innovation Centre for IT companies on the Deck premises.

Before this, the Chief Minister will visit Srikakulam district on April 26, where he will distribute financial assistance to the fishing communities under the Matsyakara Bharosa scheme, at Etcherla Assembly constituency.

Speaking to The Hindu, a Cabinet rank (TDP) member said, “The Chief Minister’s visit to Srikakulam is almost confirmed, but we have not received any official communication about the CM’s visit to Visakhapatnam as of Monday (April 21). However, we have information that the CM is coming to the city on April 30 for the Chandanotsavam, which is the main purpose of his city visit. On that day, he may formally inaugurate projects like the Deck and the helicopter museum. Otherwise, he may come to the city in the first week of May for the project inaugurations.”

On the other hand, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Chairman M.V. Pranav Gopal along with his officials on Monday (April 21) inspected the works of the project Deck. On the occasion, he directed his staff to complete any pending work of the Deck by April 26. The VMRDA also developed the UH-3H helicopter museum at a cost of about ₹4 crore including GST. The helicopter was decommissioned from the Indian Navy in 2024 June after 17 years of service.

“We are not clear about the Chief Minister’s schedule, but we have told our staff to complete the pending works of our projects by April 26 and get ready for the inauguration whenever that happens,” said Mr. Pranav Gopal.

It may be mentioned that the Deck project was finalised in December 2021 and the work began in January 2022. It was planned to be completed in 18 months from the date of signing the agreement with the contractor, but was delayed due to various reasons, including the 2024 elections. The total cost of the project was ₹87.5 crore including 18% GST. VMRDA has invested the lion’s share (about ₹60 crore) of the cost of the project.