For the residents of Madhuranagar and its adjacent colonies, the decision of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to build a wall on Narlavariveedhi to prevent traffic from entering Machavaram through the bridge on Ryves Canal, has come as a big shock. The decision was taken by the civic authorities in view of the ongoing bus rapid transit system (BRTS) works that connects the Karl Marx Road near Gunadala Mary Matha temple.
“The authorities say that they would provide a vent for vehicular traffic on the left side that would take them to the Padavalarevu Centre. It is a round-about-route and people would be required to travel an extra three kilometres to reach Karl Marx Road. For people of Machavaram to reach Madhuranagar, they would have to travel all the way to Chuttugunta Centre (BSNL Bhavan) and pass through Alluri Seetharama Raju Bridge to reach Madhuranagar. It is time-consuming,” said Mr. Srinivas Yadav, a local Telugu Desam leader. The locals, protesting the VMC decision, have launched a relay hunger strike that has entered the seventh day on Monday.
“This bridge on Ryves Canal is serving the people for over 50 years and is strong enough to serve the people for a few more decades. Instead of strengthening a wall they (VMC officials) should provide a subway provision beneath the BRTS road. When they are spending over Rs.150 crore for BRTS, they can spend just one crore for the subway which will benefit the local residents especially the students, patients, workers and motorists. A subway will save them time,” said Mr. Raju, a CPI(M) leader. Many locals said that in case of an emergency, it will be difficult to reach the hospitals on Karl Marx Road in time.
“A subway is a viable alternative and the civic authorities should respect the sentiments of the locals. It is unfortunate that the ruling Congress Party leaders are mum on this issue,” said Mr. Yadav. Ms. Latha Veeraswamy, a local, said that it was surprising that when contacted the VMC engineers said that the subway proposal was not practical as it was encroaching on the properties of few residents.
