An ambitious project to illuminate the ancient Buddhist Maha Stupa at Nelakondapalli for three hours every day after sunset got under way with Minister for Roads and Buildings T. Nageswara Rao switching on the lighting system at the monument late on Tuesday evening.
Collector D.S. Lokesh Kumar, District Tourism Officer Suman Chakravarti and others accompanied the Minister.
The ₹10-lakh project, with high-mast lighting system equipped with an automatic timer, is expected to draw more tourists to the Buddhist site that houses one of the highest Buddhist Maha Stupas in south India.
The district administration has drawn up an action plan to effectively implement the illumination project under the aegis of Department of Tourism and Archaeology Department to showcase the Buddhist architectural heritage of Telangana. The plan envisages deployment of dedicated staff to operate the lighting system and ensure its proper maintenance, sources said.
Meanwhile, scores of people thronged the site and clicked their selfies against the impressive backdrop of the Maha Stupa soon after the launch of the illumination project on Tuesday night.