TIRUPATI: The construction of Octopus base camp in Tirumala remains incomplete even five years after the laying of the foundation stone in 2016.
In keeping with the importance and security of the abode of Lord Venkateswara, commandos of Organisation for Counter Terror Operations (Octopus), the elite anti-terror force of AP police, have been guarding the hill town since 2009.
With the number of Octopus units in Tirumala growing over the years, the police department proposed to set up a base camp for the force in the hill town and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams also agreed to provide support. On July 18, 2016, then state DGP J V Ramudu laid the foundation stone for the Octopus base camp. The cost of construction work for the camp was estimated to be around Rs 15 crore. The camp was to come up on a 1.5 acre land parcel given by TTD, which also extended Rs 5 crore in the form of a grant towards construction work.
More than five years have passed, but the base camp spot on the Tirumala-Papavinasanam dam route only has some unfinished concrete structures and the foundation stone plaque is surrounded by shrubs and bushes. The elite forces guarding Tirumala continue to stay at Kalyani guest house on the hill town, posing additional burden on the TTD in terms of rental value.
When contacted, DGP D Gautam Sawang told TOI that construction works were stopped due to Covid-19 and also over issues with the contractor. “We take great pride in serving Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala through our elite forces. Resuming and completing the construction works of Octopus base camp at the earliest is one of our top priorities. The government has already sanctioned Rs 20 crore and we hope to restart the work very soon,” said Sawang.
