₹425 crore ISKCON base camp coming up in Penukonda: Minister

The historic Penukonda fort town in Sri Sathya Sai district is set to emerge as a major spiritual and cultural destination with the establishment of a ₹425.20 crore ISKCON spiritual and cultural base camp, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and Textiles S. Savita said on Friday.

In a press release, the Minister said the prestigious project would be developed over 60 acres on the hill housing the renowned Gangagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. The proposal has been cleared by the State Investment Promotion Board and received final approval from the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Ms. Savita said the project is expected to generate employment for 4,035 people, including 1,035 direct and about 3,000 indirect jobs, providing a substantial economic boost to the region. She said the ISKCON base camp would function as a comprehensive spiritual and cultural centre, significantly enhancing Penukonda’s presence on the religious tourism map.

With the project in place, the town is expected to attract devotees from across the country and abroad, spurring growth in tourism-related activities and allied services. The Minister said preparatory works for the project would commence shortly. She also thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh for their support in bringing the high-value project to the backward region.