Hyderabad, March 5 (NationPress) The government of Telangana has established a Cabinet Sub-Committee to oversee the organization of the Godavari Pushkaralu, commonly referred to as the 'Southern Kumbh Mela'.

A Government Order from Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao outlines that this Sub-Committee will evaluate and make decisions regarding the Pushkaralu scheduled for 2027.

This nine-member committee will be led by the Minister for Information Technology and Industries, D. Sridhar Babu.

Included in the committee are Ministers Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Konda Surekha, Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Adluri Laxman Kumar, along with government representative P. Sudershan Reddy.

Members of Parliament, Legislative Assembly, and Legislative Council from regions adjacent to the Godavari River will be invited to participate in meetings as special invitees as necessary.

The Principal Secretary of the Revenue (Endowments) Department will serve as the convenor for this committee.

The committee has been urged to provide its recommendations as soon as possible.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has already instructed officials to initiate early preparations for the Godavari Pushkaralu, set to begin on July 23, 2027.

The state government plans to request a special package from the central government, considering the significant number of pilgrims anticipated for this Southern Kumbh Mela.

The Chief Minister emphasized that arrangements should be made with a focus on long-term planning and emphasized the need for development around major temples along the Godavari riverbank throughout the state, ensuring that robust infrastructure is in place to accommodate the large influx of devotees during the Pushkaralu.

In a recent meeting with officials, he highlighted the necessity for adequate facilities to be prepared for the countless pilgrims seeking a holy dip.

The Godavari River spans approximately 560 km within Telangana, with around 74 ghats being planned for Pushkar arrangements. The CM has prioritized Basara, Kaleshwaram, Dharmapuri, and Bhadrachalam temples, where the highest inflow of pilgrims is anticipated.

He mandated the development of permanent Pushkar ghats along with temple infrastructure. The next priority will be other riverside locations deemed suitable for Pushkar baths. He stated that facilities must be ready to manage crowds exceeding two lakh devotees in a single day, including provisions for roads, traffic management, parking, drinking water, bathing ghats, and accommodation.