A little away from old Gajuwaka junction, a road leads to VUDA Colony at Pedagantyada. It consists of three phases. They are, Vinayaka Nagar (Phase I), Gandhi Nagar (Phase II), and Samatha Nagar (Phase III), all spread over a 170-acre site, where people of all communities have been living together for the past three decades.
Comparatively, Vinayaka Nagar is the largest of all and its history dates back to 1981. Sprawled along 135-acre area, the colony, classified as MIG-1, MIG-2A, and MIG-2B, is home to 900 households.
Those who like to stay away from the mundane city life, the place offers a perfect setting to relax and unwind. While most of the houses are duplex models, a good measure of independent houses and apartment blocks also form part of the locality.
With members of the Vinayaka Nagar House Owners’ Welfare Association playing a significant role in terms of development and maintenance, the colony has witnessed a significant change for the better. From removal of an unauthorised burial ground to converting a narrow pipe culvert into a bridge near the temple complex junction, the association has been instrumental in giving the colony a facelift.
Auditorium“Decades ago, there were no internal roads or approach road from old Gajuwaka junction to Kanithi Road. Apart from mobilising funds, our constant battle with authorities concerned helped improve amenities in the colony. Today, the colony has a community hall, a drainage system, and an approach road in place. To enhance the cultural skills of the residents, construction of a kalyana mandapam or auditorium is in the offing,” says T.V. Nageshwara Rao, former secretary of the association and a resident of the colony for the last 30 years.
Most women in the neighbourhood are homemakers. They frequent the Gajuwaka market for their daily needs as it is just a couple of hours away from the colony.
The devout quench their spiritual thirst by visiting the Siva, Ayyappa, and Venkateswara Swamy temples, and a church located close by. The colony also has a school, grocery store, vegetable market, and Pragathi Park.
