Visakhapatnam gears up for International Yoga Day event on June 21

Visakhapatnam gears up for International Yoga Day with extensive beautification of Beach Road and alternative venue preparations at AU.

The City of Destiny is undergoing a major facelift ahead of the International Yoga Day celebrations, scheduled for June 21.

The Beach Road stretch between the Naval Coastal Battery and Park Hotel Junction, the main venue for the event, is being beautified extensively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and other dignatoaries are sheduled to participate in the grand event.

The Beach Road, which underwent a beautification drive ahead of the G-20 summit in 2023, is now being adorned with innovative installations and sculptures. Among the highlights are a floral-themed structure and a giant paintbrush topped with greenery, symbolising the State government’s ‘Harithandhrapradesh’ initiative. Painting and refurbishment works are being undertaken on sculptures, medians and grills to give them a vibrant and fresh appearance of the tourist spot.

This apart, the Horticulture Department of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has been taking up works like planting new saplings, trimming and refreshing existing greenery to showcase a rejuvenated environment.

Not just the RK Beach stretch, the beautification drive covers The Park Hotel Junction to Bheemunipatnam. This corridor is witnessing removal of dead trees, replacement of defunct streetlights, improvements to street lighting, footpaths, road repair works and general maintenance.

Preparations are also under way at the Andhra University Engineering College Grounds, which have been identified as an alternative venue in case of rain. If the weather holds, the grounds may still host Yoga Day activities alongside the main event.

Key officials, including Principal Secretary and Special Officer for the event, M.T. Krishna Babu, IT Minister Nara Lokesh, and a Central inspection team, have already reviewed the ongoing arrangements. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam on June 16 to personally assess the preparations along with other senior officials.