Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Residents oppose move to widen road

— PHOTO: RAJU V.

IN AGITATION MODE: Residents of Bhagatsingh Road at a protest meeting organised by former corporator P. Gowtham Reddy in Vijayawada on Sunday.

VIJAYAWADA: The residents of Bhagatsingh Road vehemently opposed the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC)’s proposal to widen the road up to 65 ft. Instead, they said, the Corporation could focus on roads being developed in Madhura Nagar.

The residents assembled at former corporator and Congress leader P. Gowtham Reddy’s residence on the same road on Sunday. At the meeting, they resolved to oppose the unilateral decision of the Corporation tooth and nail.

Some of them recalled that the Corporation did not pay compensation for the land that was acquired in 80s. “We ran from pillar to post in the corridors of the VMC; but the compensation is not paid to us till date,” said Jayaprakash Narayana Raju, a resident. Now they (Corporation) are gearing up to take some land, and that too without serving notices, Vadde Sankaraiah and others.

K. Srinivas Rao and others complained that the Corporation officials never gave proper and right information to the residents. Initially, they said that they were checking whether there were any illegal occupations on the road; later, the officials said they were planning for road widening. And, finally, they entered our houses “without our knowledge” and made markings without serving notices. It’s gross violation of rules, they said.

Mr. Gowtham Reddy expressed the view that the road widening required more than Rs. 6 crore if compensation and construction of bridge were taken into account. Instead, the officials could concentrate on Madhura Nagar road as it convenient road for traffic coming from Nunna, Nuzvid, Payakapuram, Vambay Colony. Nearly 60,000 people from Vambay colony and other areas go to Autongar daily. The Madhura Nagar road is more convenient for them, he said.

More so, the Corporation need not spend any additional funds, as it was already constructing two bridges, and developing the Madhura Nagar road from Bandar Road to Vambay Colony. If need be a low bridge or over bridge could be constructed at railway line near Vambay colony, he said.

Alternatively, the VMC could widen the existing road from drain to drain, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

VMC requires Rs. 556 cr. for JNNURM works
Residents oppose move to widen road
Dream big, students told
Raja Rangaiah’s statue unveiled
A rare honour for district’s archers
Check price rise
Display timings of booking counter
Vijayawada today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu