Yellammathota was once a village that came into existence much before the World War II. From an isolated corner to a bustling neighbourhood, this part of the city, popularly referred to as Jagadamba Junction, has gone through a metamorphosis over the decades. Very few know that the Municipal Corporation has given the junction a name, Tenneti square after installing a statue of Tenneti Viswanadham who led the agitation for establishment of Visakhapatnam steel plant.
Today, the area is not only bordered with CPI(M), Congress and YSRC offices but also with prominent cinema houses such as Venkateswara, Jagadamba and INOX Chitralaya Mall.
People believe that the goddess Yellamma fulfils their wishes and is an embodiment of abundance and prosperity. “My grandfather used to say that the deity was worshipped in temporary premises and later the temple was built in 1960. After Sivaratri , the annual ‘jatara’ is one of the main celebrations that draw huge crowds,” explains Nadipilli Lakshmi, 55-year-old resident, staying close to the shrine.
A major part of the neighbourhood is dotted with commercial buildings. The residedents of the locality say any political meeting and movie release create havoc for them.
“There will be a massive traffic block on the roads as violators park along either sides of the road bringing our communication to a standstill. Despite our repeated representations, the authorities failed to take any action,” says P.V. Chalapathi, a dermatologist at Yellammathota.
Residents lamented that there was barely any indication of development for the last few years in the area and that the practice of open defecation lowered the chances of its growth. “Some portions of storm water drains have been encroached upon by slum dwellers and they relieve themselves in the open. Though GVMC Zone III office is located at Suryabagh, which is close to our area, our complaints have hardly been looked into,” says S.S. Prabha, another resident showing a bunch of letters she had sent to zone office.
Zone III Commissioner V. Chakradhar; Mobile No: 9848889701; Helpdesk No: 0891-2707299.
