AP’s Kondaveedu fort to be developed into hill station

Government of Andhra Pradesh is planning to develop the historic Kondaveedu fort close to the new state capital Amaravati, into a hill station with a resort. The authorities are expecting a significant increase in the tourist footfalls in the coming years and are launching the developmental activities soon. A host of projects would be taken up by the tourism, endowments, archaeology, roads and buildings and electricity departments.

As part of the project, the roads and buildings department would first lay a ghat road atop the 14th century fort at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore. The department has already taken up various projects, including laying of a 5-km road from Phirangipuram to the hilltop, to develop the fort, which is nearing completion. A 660-metre road would be laid from the end point of the existing ghat road to reach old temples, guest houses, river tanks and other areas of the fort.

The ghat road development works atop the fort would begin shortly, and are expected to be completed before the end of 2018. Once the road is laid and the footfalls pick up, tourism, endowments and archaeology departments will prepare requisite plans for development of resorts, temples and others to tap the tourism potential.