Bottlenecks, bumpy rides, potholes, haphazard and reckless driving are few features that greet the people as soon as they hit the Vijayawada roads. The development works taken up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme did not bring cheer to the people.
The restoration of roads did not take place properly. The people living in One Town and hilly areas are the worst sufferers.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has dug up 545 km length of roads in the city to lay sewer or drinking water lines.
It could not complete restoration in a stretch of 86 km for various reasons, mainly due to paucity of funds. This list does not include the roads that were worn out or damaged owing to regular flow of vehicular traffic.
The VMC spent about Rs.60 crore on restoration of the roads.
It spent more than Rs.24 crore from other JNNURM projects (a diversion of funds) like housing. It requires another Rs.45 crore to complete the remaining works, which came to screeching halt due to paucity of funds.
Design
The storm water drains and roads have been so badly designed that they are covered with a sheet of water even after a slight drizzle. The drains cannot discharge the storm water as their linings are raised by one and half foot above road level.
Barring Crombay Road, Panja Centre Road and Tikkle Road, none of the roads, including Bandar Road, have been widened as per the master plan prepared by the Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri – Urban Development Authority (VGTM-UDA). While the UDA declared that Bandar Road should be of a width of 120 feet, the road was widened only between 90 ft and 100 ft from Police Control Room to Benz Circle, to a total distance of about 4.20 km.
The Corporation failed to address the objections raised by the land owners.
