Travelling in the city on the vicinities of Kanaka Durga temple, entering from Hyderabad end during the Dasara navaratri celebrations will be a challenge like it used to be in the last decade due to the delay in completion of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) and widening of the Sitara Centre - Kedareswarapeta stretch.
The IRR works are expected to be completed by December last or early January. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) commenced the widening markings on the Sitara Centre-Kedareswarapeta stretch. Apart from Dasara rush, the completion of these works is crucial for commencing the Kanaka Durga flyover works.
The State Government has already declared that Dasara festivities at the Kanaka Durga temple would be a State festival and officials expect nearly 2 lakh pilgrims to take darshan of the goddess everyday. Given the pilgrim turnout and the existing road infrastructure, regulating traffic is going to be an arduous task for authorities as well.
Traffic police had made it very clear that the existing Sitara Centre, Chittinagar Junction and the entire stretch up to Kedareswarapeta has to be widened. “Until the entire route is widened, it will be tough to ensure smooth flow of traffic. The existing narrow road cannot handle the traffic volume,” an official pointed out.
Thanks to the narrow road space, motorists traveling on the State Highway from Gollapudi to Kedareswarapeta through the tunnel, which connects NH 9 to NH 5, have a torrid time. Diverting the traffic would compound the problems further for residents and motorists.
“The Government has sanctioned Rs.18 crore for the works but we are yet to receive the funds,” said a VMC official.
On the other hand, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) claims efforts are being intensified to complete the nearly 10-km IRR project to facilitate the diversion of traffic from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam by December or early January.
All the land acquisition works are completed and by all means the works would be completed by Republic Day, said a senior official.
At present, girders are being constructed in the Ryves, Eluru and Budameru canals and foundation is laid for the 32 girders. This apart, approach roads works are underway at the Ramavarappadu end and it will facilitate passage of heavy cranes and trucks to continue the flyover works at Gunadala, the official said.
