Cites Legal & Economic logic for justifying his stance

Amid the continuing debate over the future use of the palace complex at Rushikonda, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) State president Mr Palla Srinivasa Rao has come out making a strong pitch for retaining the structure as a tourism-oriented asset, arguing that both its legal character and economic logic clearly warranted such an approach.

As per an official release from his office he recalled the circumstances under which the project was conceived and pointed out that the land had, from the outset, belonged to the Tourism Department and that it was explicitly stated at the time of construction that the building was coming up on tourism land.

In that context, he said, it would be most appropriate for the structure to continue as a tourism project rather than be diverted to other uses.

He cautioned that a building of such scale would entail exceptionally high maintenance costs and that, in the absence of a steady revenue stream, its upkeep could become a significant financial burden on the government.

Converting it into a government office, he observed, would generate little by way of income, making the exercise fiscally imprudent. Leasing it out as a hotel or resort, on the other hand, would be a more viable and revenue-generating option for the State, said the release from Mr Rao’s office.

Tourist Attraction

Noting that Rushikonda was a destination with the potential to attract tourists throughout the year, Mr. Rao said it was important not to overlook the fact that the site had earlier functioned as a tourism project.

Tourism Land

Legally too, the land belonged to the Tourism Department, and its utilisation, he argued, should logically align with the broader objectives of tourism development. Turning such a location into a government office complex would, in his view, be a misplaced decision from a tourism perspective.

With the government having already invested close to Rs 1,000 crore in the project, he said it would be untenable to allow such large-scale infrastructure to remain underutilised.

Drawing from his experience, he warned that several government buildings had, over time, fallen into disrepair due to inadequate maintenance, ultimately resulting in even higher costs to the exchequer.

The most effective way to avoid such an outcome, he said, would be to involve a professionally competent private partner.

This would ensure proper upkeep of the facility while also providing the government with a stable source of revenue. Such an arrangement, he added, would be fully consistent with the nature of the land and the mandate of the Tourism Department.

Response to BJP MLA Views

The TDP state president clarified that the views expressed by BJP MLA Mr Vishnu Kumar Raju on the issue were personal in nature. His own position, he said, was in line with the recommendations made by the Cabinet sub-committee.

Allocating the project for hotel development, he maintained, was the most practical and sustainable option in the long run.

Emphasising that large infrastructure projects could not survive without assured revenue, he noted that the final decision rested with the Cabinet sub-committee.

Once the sub-committee submitted its report, consultations would be held with local MLAs and their views duly taken into account before a final call was made.

He appealed for patience, urging that the sub-committee be allowed to complete its process and arrive at a considered decision.