Rajamahendravaram: BJP national executive member and MLC Somu Veerraju has urged the Union government to extend support for tourism development around the Polavaram project and establish a National Palmyra Development Board in Andhra Pradesh. During a meeting with Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi, Veerraju submitted a memorandum seeking the development of a Rajamahendravaram-Polavaram-Bhadrachalam spiritual, heritage, eco and river cruise tourism corridor centred around the Polavaram project. He requested Central assistance for the development of Godavari riverfronts and tourism projects in the Papikonda region, including eco-tourism, cruise tourism and adventure tourism. Veerraju said the proposed tourism corridor would generate employment, strengthen the local economy and provide significant benefits to tribal communities. Later, he met Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and sought the establishment of a National Palmyra Development Board at Pandirimamidi village in Rampachodavaram mandal of Polavaram district.