Visakhapatnam: Rajiv Bhavan stands as Hudhud Memorial

Visakhapatnam: Everything on the Beach Road has been beautified and got a facelift, ahead of the International Fleet Review, except the Rajiv Gandhi Smriti Bhavan.

The building still stands as a  lone structure hit by cyclone Hudhud, keeping the memories of the cyclone fresh in people’s mind. Moreover, the building has been dotted with all big advertisement hoardings put up by government to promote its various events.

The GVMC is putting in all its efforts to give facelift to museum, heritage and all important buildings in the city, but has turned a blind eye to the Bhavan.

No efforts are being taken up by officials to restore the building, despite the vice-president of AICC Rahul Gandhi visiting the spot after the cyclone in October last year and promising to revamp it.

Only, a signboard has been put up saying restoration work is going on.
The building, which houses a permanent photo exhibition on the life and times of former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi, was built by GVMC.

It was conceptualised as a tourist attraction on the lines of the renowned Guggenheim Museum at Manhattan in New York at a cost of Rs 2 crore.

All the photographs of Rajiv Gandhi were damaged, along with the glass panes and exhibits inside.

The foundation stone for the building was laid by former chief minister of united AP Y.S.  Rajasekhara Reddy in August 2008 to pay tributes to Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in TN after addressing his last public meeting in Visakhapatnam.