Acharya Nagarjuna University has been awarded A grade with 3.08 points by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The NAAC Standing Committee held a meeting with the peer committee which inspected ANU in the first week of December at Bangalore and decided to award A grade to Nagarjuna University.

NAAC peer committee headed by Prof HP Khincha of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, inspected the university and studied the academic infrastructure, educational standards, research activities and other related things for the purpose of awarding a grade to it.

ANU Vice-Chancellor A Rajendra Prasad made a PowerPoint presentation to the NAAC Committee on the academic development achieved by the university. While concluding its three-day Visit, Prof Khinchais of the view that ANU is poised for tremendous growth as it is located in capital region Amaravati.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Rajendra Prasad, Registrar K John Paul and Rector KRS Sambasiva Rao expressed their happiness over getting A grade. With the awarding of A grade by NAAC, ANU is likely to get more funds from the University Grant Commission (UGC) for research projects and further development of academic infrastructure.

The NAAC team which inspected ANU in 2010, awarded B grade to it with 2.86 points. The elevation of the university from B to A grade was welcomed by students and faculty members.

Considered to be the best in the country, VUDA Children Arena built at a cost of Rs 22.16 crore will be launched by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Nadu on December 17. The existing children theatre at Siripuram junction was partly demolished in 2012 and construction of new complex was taken up in 2013. There were many hiccups during the last three years and finally the dream theatre for children materialised.

The modern children arena is proposed with increase seating capacity and state-of-the-art facilities having elegant appearance made with composite panel in different colours for outer shells and lighting. The design architectural consultancy and allied services was entrusted to M/s Design Concepts, Kakinada represented by M. Raja Shekhar, a reputed architect an expert in design of theatre's and auditoriums

Entire arena was built in an extent of two acres and the ground floor has 400 seat capacity where children's programmes Would be held exclusively. The first floor has 600 seats capacity where other functions can also be organised. The facilities include multiple system arena, gaming Zone, culture village, food courts, habitation centre, exhibition space, outdoor activities, library, VIP rooms, lounge and parking. Experts who visited the complex recently were impressed with the architecture and seating arrangements for the children.

The old Children's Theatre built in 1994 attracted lot of people as it was located in the heart of the city. Other than theatre, it had a mini Zoo and a playground. In 2012, VUDA thought of upgrading the theatre. The new complex opening was deferred several times in the past.

The State capital Amaravati will have bus-cum-boat vehicle facility soon. Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) officials have finalised plans to introduce the bus-cum-boats from Ibrahimpatnam to Amaravati on River Krishna. The CRDA officials are drawing up plans to replicate the two-way mode transport facility which was launched in Goa recently.

According to sources, the new facility will be available in two months for both tourists as well as public. Ibrahimpatnam in Krishna district has become an important tourist spot due to Pavitra Sangamam (confluence of Krishna-Godavari rivers). Besides, hundreds of people of both Krishna and Guntur district use boat services from ferry point to cross the river to reach villages in Amaravati area.

People of several villages in Tulluru, Amaravati, Tadepalli and Mangalagiri mandals are using the boat facility as public transport to cross Krishna river. Daily labour and agriculture Workers cross Krishna river through mechanised boats at Ibrahimpatnam. The people have been crossing River Krishna at the particular point for several decades.

This water way is immensely useful to reach villages in Amaravati capital region for the people in West Krishna and some parts of Khamam district. The way reduced journey time from one-and-a-half hour to 30 minutes and also distance abnormally. The traffic by boats has increased manifold from Ibrahimpatnam ferry point since villages on the other side of river in Guntur district were selected for capital city.

Currently, private boats are being operated to meet the demand. The CRDA has explained its plan to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for a formal permission from him. CRIDA Commissioner Ch.Sridhar, said that the special vehicle runs as a bus while on road and automatically turns into a boat when it enters water. This bus-cum-boat can carry about 35 passengers.

CRDA Secretary Ajay Jain said that the employees and tourists who would be on a visit from Hyderabad to Vijayawada can cross River Krishna at Imbrahimpatnam to reach Amaravati.

The proposal assumes significance as Ibrahimpatnam is also very near to Kondapalli Fort which is one of the popularand historical tourist destinations in the area.

A new boating experience is brought to life for the visitors to Krishna River. Water Sports India has launched different varieties of boats on the Krishna Waters as a tourist attraction in association with the AP Tourism in Punnami Ghat on Wednesday.

The Dolphin pedel boat stood attractive out of all, which facilitates four members while two of them pedal the boat to move in the water.

The other is the inflatable boat which accommodates seven passengers, with one driver which runs on the motor speed on the Water. Water Sports India also provided Khayak Ocean boat in which two persons can go on a ride by rowing. The Habi Khayak accommodates four passengers.

Out of all the boats, the centre of attraction had been the Puskharani boat which is fontoon luxury boat with advanced music system FM and WiFi facilities and also facilitates to celebrate small birthday parties accommodating 14 passengers.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation chairman Jayarami Reddy and MD Girija Sankar launched these new boats in Punnanni Ghat.