It is a perennial problem. Every time when it pours in the city, Pinnanamaneni Polyclinic road is left under a sheet of water and the roadside drains overflow, causing severe problems for motorists and pedestrians.
Replete with residential colonies, education institutes and commercial establishments, the stretch is a high traffic zone. When it rains, the stretch turns almost inaccessible for residents and students, as they need to walk through ankle-deep water. To make matters worse, the roadside drains overflow and the stretch turns slushy, posing problems for pedestrians and motorists.
The rain water from Mogalrajpuram Hill and neighbouring areas flows down towards this stretch and the existing drains that were laid decades ago are not sufficient to handle the pressure. As a result, the murky water overflows onto the road, says P. Krishna Rao, a resident of Gayathri Nagar.
“In addition to this, foul smell envelopes the locality and at times our customers tend to avoid travelling across this stretch. Our business also gets affected due to unhygienic conditions,” says Ramakrishna, a shop owner pointing to the stagnated water at KIMS Hospital.
Motorists prefer this stretch as it reduces time and distance to reach Jammichettu centre from Nirmala Convent road and vice versa. This apart, it also serves as an alternative road for M.G.Road and everyday considerable traffic is witnessed on the stretch.
Repeated complaintsWith repeated complaints pouring in from all quarters about water-logging and overflowing drains, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation authorities have chalked out a plan to change the drains structure and flow pattern.
The existing drains are laid from Pinnanamaneni Polyclinic road via Nirmala convent road, Eluru road and are connected to the Ryves Canal. But to cut short the distance and quick disposal of water, authorities have prepared a blueprint of diverting the drains from Pinnanamaneni Polyclinic road via National Highway service road and connect them to Bandar canal at Benz circle.
A detailed project report was prepared recently and the estimated cost of the project is Rs.42 crore. After the Commissioner approves the plan, works will begin, said a senior official.
