Gandhi Hill all set to receive a major facelift

Gandhi Hill in Vijayawada set for major revival with comprehensive renovation project by Andhra Pradesh government.

After years of neglect, Gandhi Hill, one of Vijayawada’s most iconic landmarks, is set for a major revival with the Andhra Pradesh government clearing the decks for a comprehensive renovation project that aims to restore the historic site to its former glory.

Atop the Gandhi Hill stands a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, the first monument built in memory of the Father of the Nation after his assassination in 1948. A stone’s throw from the Vijayawada Railway Station on the Tarapet side, this site has long served as a symbol of peace and national pride, attracting both tourists and locals alike.

However, in the recent years, the monument and its surrounding infrastructure have fallen into disrepair.

“Good days are ahead for Gandhi Hill, which deserves a pride of place. We are developing a comprehensive plan to groom the place into an iconic international tourist destination,” chairman of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi P.C. Kaza, told The Hindu on Saturday.

The Andhra Pradesh Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, constituted in 2017 after bifurcation of the State, nominated a new committee for the Gandhi Hill Foundation (GHF), which convened its meeting on the Gandhi Hill on May 8.

NTR district Collector G. Lakshmisha and Commissioner of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) H. M. Dhyanachandra also attended as ex officio members, to review the current status of the site.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Mr. Gandhi, along with the GHF secretary Y. Ramachandra Rao and 11 other nominated members, including Jandhyala Sankar, Raavi Sarada, I. Prasada Raju, Rashmi Samaram and G.V. Mohan Prasad. The members decided to take up development of this important place in a phased manner.