Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Two new locations identified for FOBs

Watch out!: Pedestrians do some acrobatics to cross the road at Maddilapalem bus stand.

VISAKHAPATNAM: With the vehicular traffic growing by the day, pedestrians are having a tough time crossing the road at busy intersections. To make things easy, foot over bridges are proposed.

The fabrication of two bridges is taken up by the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) under its corporate social responsibility after a request was made by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority. Though considerable amount has been spent and the necessary infrastructure ready with the fabrication of foot over bridges (FOBs), there seems to be delay in putting them in place. It has been two months since the 80 m fabrication is ready at a cost of Rs. 64 lakhs.

However, the main reason for the civil work to erect the bridges not taking place is said to be GVMC and the VUDA not being able to decide upon a location. It is learnt that originally the FOBs are proposed at Asilmetta and Kailasagiri.

In a joint inspection, the Police and the GVMC officials had visited Asilmetta, Jagadamba Junction and Kancharaplem Mettu and other busy intersections. The FOB is mainly meant to facilitate pedestrian crossing along the national highway with high traffic density. However, to erect them on the national highway the permission of the National Highways Authority is required and enforceability is another factor.

After a visit by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and the Chief Engineers of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the VUDA, the NHAI Project Director went around and proposed to erect the bridges at NAD Kotha Road and Old Gajuwaka Junction. However, following the finalisation of tenders for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) for the Pendurthy-Dwarakanagar corridor, taking up the FOB there is considered not feasible as for the BRTS work it will have to be dismantled.

The Old Gajuwaka junction is also in for redesigning by the NHAI. Besides, the NHAI’s proposals for six-laning of the highway is on the cards. That is back to square one again for the FOBs.

"Under the instructions of Police Commissioner N. Sambasiva Rao, initiative has been taken and a fresh look taken for the location of the FOBs," DCP (Traffic) P. Viswa Prasad told The Hindu when contacted.

The two locations zeroed in are Maddilapalem junction and Kapparada Junction. A consultancy firm, JHS, has been given the task of making technical studies. Once its report is available, it will be sent to the NHAI for approval after which the GVMC and the VUDA will take up civil works for erection. Until then, there does not seem to an end to the pedestrian woes.

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