ANANTAPUR: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said Gandikota, the ‘South Grand Canyon’, will soon be part of the international tourism circuit.
The Oberoi Hotels group organised the ground-breaking ceremony for its hotels and resorts facilities in Gandikota on Sunday, in the presence of the Chief Minister. This was a follow up to the MoU it signed with the state government at the Global Investors Summit at Visakhapatnam in March 2022 to establish the 7-star facilities at Vizag and Tirupati as also at the Gandikota tourism spot.
Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled the plaque and laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Oberoi Hotels in Gandikota, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, by virtual mode, on Sunday from the Gandikota site in Kadapa district.
Senior officials and Vikram Oberoi, MD of Oberoi Group, exchanged the signed MoU in the presence of the Chief Minister.
Participating in the Bhoomi Puja, the Chief Minister reviewed the plans of the star hotels and resorts that are to be built closer to the exclusive canyon on the banks of the Pennar river. He said this would help Gandikota, find a place on the world tourism map.
With the 7-star hotel facility coming up, YSR Kadapa district will become globally popular in the tourism sector, Jagan Mohan Reddy said and requested Vikram Oberoi to explore the possibility of setting up a golf course too in Gandikota.
“This would provide direct and indirect employment to 500 to 800 persons besides boosting development in and around Gandikota,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the Oberoi facilities will attract more projects to the region.
Vikram Oberoi expressed his hope that the hotel and resort facility would serve as an engine of economic growth and generate employment for the youth. “As pioneers in developing the finest hotels across the world, we would strive to contribute to the growth of this area. Our project will be completed by 2025 in Gandikota, Vizag and Tirupati areas,” he said.
Tourism minister R.K. Roja praised the Chief Minister's efforts to develop tourism in AP and raise it to international standards.
Tirupati collector K. Venkata Ramana Reddy and Visakhapatnam collector Dr A. Mallikarjuna Rao interacted with the Chief Minister virtually and explained about the land and other facilities provided to the Oberoi Group for the construction of the hotels.
Kadapa collector V.R. Raju, tourism special chief secretary Rajat Bhargava, MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, deputy Chief Minister Amzath Bhasha, tourism minister A. Suresh, Chief Secretary Jawahar Reddy, MLAs, MLCs and people’s representatives participated in the event.
Later, Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the speed boat service in Gandikota canyon.
