The second bypass road for Ongole town has become controversial with one group opposing it, while the other favouring it.
The group favouring the alignment proposed by the government took out a rally from FCI godowns to Prakasam Bhavan here on Thursday and submitted a memorandum to District Revenue Officer. Several people from Koppole, Agraharam, Pellur, Guttikondavaripalem, Dasarajupalle, Muktinutalapadu, Chintala villages through which the proposed bypass road would traverse participated in the rally.
Secretary of the struggle committee, Paluri Venkateswara Reddy, alleged that some political leaders and realtors were opposing the alignment with a vested interest.
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He pointed out that there was no growth on the eastern side of the railway track for decades.
The area achieved 5-10 per cent growth only after the TDP MP, Karanam Balaramakrishna Murthi, got constructed the railway flyover.
Even after the bypass road was laid, it would take 30-40 years for the area to achieve full development, he averred. The proposed alignment would help all the villages through which it passes.
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The National Highways Authority of India has chosen the alignment so carefully with the help of Google maps that the proposed road would not affect the any existing construction.
He refuted the contention of those who wanted the bypass road be laid five km away from the town. Mr. Venkateswara Reddy pointed out that the bypass road in Nellore was just 1.5 km from Atmakur bus stand.
Plea to NHAI
The agitators urged the National Highway Authority of India not to change the alignment yielding to the threats by some ‘vested' interests.