The city was soaked in saffron, white and green colours as denizens celebrated the 73rd Independence Day.
Streets were decorated with the Indian Tricolour and people were seen hoisting the national flag, with badges of the flag pinned to their shirts as they delivered speeches on the significance of the day.
In YSR Colony, YSR Congress Party leader Buddha Nageswara Rao celebrated the day along with the Joint Action Committee of the differently-abled people living in the colony. He highlighted the importance of environmental preservation and planted saplings in the area along with the committee members.
Several apartment associations, colonies and trade unions in various pockets of the city hoisted the flag and engaged in activities related to environmental preservation to highlight the fast growing consequences of using toxic materials that harm the planet.
In government offices
Tammineni Sitaram, Speaker of Legislative Assembly, hoisted the flag at the Assembly, while Neerabh Kumar Prasad, Special Chief Secretary, EFS&T, hoisted the flag on the Secretariat premises.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court celebrated Independence Day on its premises for the first time since its establishment. C. Praveen Kumar, Acting Chief Justice, who was chief guest, highlighted the importance of the day and paid tributes to those who fought for the independence of the nation. He said the legal cell was open for all even on Sundays to ensure that they sought a solution to their grievances in an efficient manner.
P. Srinivas, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Division, hoisted the flag on the office premises. He spoke about the achievements of the South Central Railway and mentioned that the division was the first in the Indian Railways to eliminate all unmanned level crossings.
Students participate
Students of the Municipal Schools participated in a parade on the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation premises. Prasanna Venkatesh, VMC Commissioner, who was chief guest, honoured the freedom fighters and their families, and emphasised the need to respect one another for a peaceful and prosperous life.
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation honoured those posthumously, who dedicated their life to the corporation and the welfare of the people. The late D. Subramanyaraju, the late P. Emmanuel and late S. Narayanappa were honoured and recognised for their undying service to the passengers and their families were awarded ₹25,000 each.
Eductional institutions like V.P. Siddhartha College celebrated Independence day with much patriotic fervour. Cultural programmes were held to commemorate the freedom fighters. K. Sandhya Rani, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax delivered a speech on the significance of the day before the commencement of cultural programmes.
