RPC demands Rajahmundry name restoration, pushkaram safety measures ahead

Rajahmundry: RPC Founding President Meda Srinivas on Monday urged the Andhra Pradesh government to restore the historic name “Rajamandri” and ensure comprehensive health, security and administrative measures ahead of the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams, citing public sentiment and safety concerns.

Call to restore historic name

Addressing a press conference at the Rajahmundry Press Club, Meda Srinivas demanded that the officially used name “Rajahmahendravaram” be reverted to “Rajamandri,” asserting that the current name hurts the self-respect of residents. He said Rajahmundry is an ancient literary and cultural city with over 2,000 years of history, known earlier as Rajamandri and Rajamandir, much before the reign of Raja Raja Narendra.

He alleged that the renaming announced during the 2015 Pushkarams lacked historical basis and ignored the city’s rich legacy of poets such as Nannayya and Tikkana, its spiritual traditions, and its role under various rulers including Kshatriyas, Nawabs, Mughals, Nizams, Europeans and the British.

Pushkarams 2027: Massive turnout expected

Srinivas said the government has identified July 23, 2027, as the auspicious date for the Godavari Pushkarams and estimates suggest nearly 10 crore devotees may attend, comparable to the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. Given the scale, he stressed the need for flawless planning to avoid lapses witnessed during the 2015 Pushkarams.

Health concerns and paper mill issue

Raising serious public health concerns, he demanded the closure of the Andhra Pradesh Paper Mill at least three months before the Pushkarams. He warned that hazardous chemicals released by the mill could pollute air and water, posing risks to millions of devotees bathing in the Godavari. He also referred to recent incidents in other states where large religious gatherings saw the spread of dangerous infections, overwhelming medical systems.

Security and surveillance measures urged

Highlighting potential security threats due to massive crowds, Srinivas called for strengthened surveillance, advanced monitoring systems and the deployment of experienced and committed officials. He cautioned that extremist elements could exploit such gatherings and urged preventive intelligence measures, including the active involvement of national investigative agencies.

Administrative planning and public participation

The RPC leader stressed the importance of expert-led planning for bathing ghats, traffic regulation, sanitation, medical services and crowd management well in advance. He also sought the formation of an official all-party committee with local representation to oversee security and developmental arrangements related to the Pushkarams.

Appeal to government

Srinivas appealed to the state government to respect public sentiment by officially restoring the name Rajahmundry through municipal and gazette procedures, ideally announcing it during the 2027 Pushkarams at the Arts College grounds. He said a detailed report containing these demands and suggestions has already been submitted to the Andhra Pradesh government.

Leaders present

Several RPC secular wing leaders and members, including Pendyala Kamaraju, Kothapalli Bhaskara Ramam, DV Ramanamurthy, Doshi Nishant, Barla Prasad, RK Chetti, MD Hussain, Vardhanapu Sharath Kumar, Dudde Trinath, Karumuri Yugandhar, Gudla Durga Prasad, Basa Sonia, Medicherla Srinivasarao, Koppada Ramaraju, Vadapalli Jyotish, Dwadasi Srinivasarao and Kolli Satyanarayana, attended the press conference.