RAJAHMUNDRY:  Arrangements are in full swing to provide accommodation for employees to be deployed for the Godavari Maha Pushkarams (GMP) duty in the city. The 12-day river festival begins on July 14.

The accommodation committee, headed by sub-collector V Vijaya Rama Raju, has finalised accommodation for 40,000 employees and is said to be taking steps for another 10,000.

Employees drawn from various departments including endowments, APSRTC, APEPDCL, fire services department, Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD), transport, fisheries, revenue, police and irrigation will discharge duties during the mega event.

According to sub-collector V Vijaya Rama Raju, the accommodation will be provided at hotels, ‘kalyana mandapams’, choultries  and educational institutions.

There are five A Class, 25 B Class and 21 C Class hotels in the city and 30 per cent of the rooms will be under the control of the  government. Accommodation for pontiffs of various ‘peethams’ will be provided at ‘kalyana mandapams’ located on the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, he disclosed.

The sub-collector said accommodation for pilgrims would be made available only for 12 hours. Room tariffs would be checked from time to time. Discussions were held with the managements of hotels, ‘kalyana mandapams’ and educational institutions.

Vijaya Rama Raju said all educational institutions would remain closed during the Pushkarams and orders were issued in this regard. ‘Pinda pradanam’, which is an important ritual during Pushkarams,   should be organised at some places designated for the purpose. Several nurseries had come forward to lend their support for beautification of the city.

The sub-collector said the replica of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple would be arranged at the Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation Stadium and those of other famous temples on the premises of Sri Kandukuri Veeresalingam Theosophical College.

A decision on traffic diversions during the event would be taken shortly, he concluded.