Rajahmundry, AP: The West Godavari district administration has sent a Rs 94 crore proposal to the Andhra Pradesh government for developmental works for the 'Godavari Pushkaralu' (river festival) to be held next year.

The 'Godavari Pushkaralu' is held once in 12 years during which devotees from all over the country come to take a holy dip in the river with the belief that they would be relieved of all sins.

West Godavari District Collector K Bhaskar held a meeting yesterday in this regard at Eluru with municipal corporation commissioners of Narsapuram, Palcole and Nidavolu and directed them to take up development of infrastructure, repairs of roads, ghats and other facilities for pilgrims, who come to attend the 12-day river festival.

"The development works will taken up in four municipal corporation limits, Narsapuram, Palcole, Kovvuru and Nidadavolu in the district with Rs 94 crores. A proposal to this effect has been sent to the state government," Bhaskar said on Thursday.

"We are expecting lakhs of people to arrive at the ghats in Narsapuram and Kovvuru municipal limits. For this purpose, Rs 84 crore will be spent on laying and repairs of roads, drainages, ghats, power supply and sanitation," he said.

Besides, proposals worth Rs 7.85 crore and Rs 1.43 crore have been prepared for Palcole and Nidadavolu municipal corporations respectively, to take up developmental works, he said.

A meeting is expected to be held in this regard at Hyderabad on Friday and Bhaskar has directed the four municipal commissioners to get approval at the earliest from the state government for the festival-related works.