AP Govt forms GoM to decide future use of Rushikonda resort

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh government today has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to examine and recommend the best possible utilization of the idle Rushikonda resort in Visakhapatnam.

According to Government Order (GO RT No. 1586) issued on August 29, 2025, the GoM will be headed by Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh, along with Finance, Planning, Commercial Taxes, and Legislative Affairs Minister Payyavula Keshav, and Social Welfare, Disabled and Senior Citizen Welfare, and Sachivalayam & Village Volunteer Minister Dr. Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy.

The Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture Department, will serve as the convener of the committee, while the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the A.P. Tourism Development Corporation will extend necessary support. The GoM has also been authorized to invite special representatives from other departments, if required.

The committee will submit its recommendations to the government, which will then take a final call on the future course of action for the Rushikonda property.

This development comes just a day after Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan visited the Rushikonda resort, inspected its infrastructure, and took note of the facilities available at the site. His visit has drawn fresh attention to the long-pending decision on how best to utilize the strategically located resort.

It may be recalled that former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has spent Rs 500 Cr to build palace on Rushikonda Hill, Visakhapatnam. The palace, with four spacious blocks, has come up on a sprawling 10-acre plot on a flat surface on the picturesque Rushikonda with a rare sea view.

The palace was intially constructed as a tourism facility but was later said to become the resident-cum-camp office of YS Jagan in the event of YSRCP returning to power in the 2024 elections as Visakhapatnam was also tipped to be the capital.