A tightly-knit colony, Gandhinagar-VUDA Colony Phase II near Pedagantyada, houses more than 300 families.
The locality, divided into LIG and MIG groups, was carved out by VUDA in 1985 and is occupied by employees of various sectors. For those who have been living here since the colony came into existence, the proximity to several industries such as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, HPCL, erstwhile Hindustan Zinc Limited, and Coromandel Fertilisers Limited, along with other PSUs appeared to be the main attraction. “Our main intention to settle here is to commute less while staying close to our workplace. Over the years, people from different walks of life have made the place their permanent home,” says Bolisetty Divakar, president of Gandhinagar, VUDA Colony Phase II MIG House Owners’ Welfare Association.
A well-maintained park, developed recently in public-private partnership mode, offers a whiff of fresh air to all age groups who wish to relax after a long-tiring day. As part of the annual celebrations, residents celebrate special occasions like Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and New Year together. A newly constructed ‘Sivalayam’ provides a right platform for the faithful to organise devotional activities. Apparently, the little neighbourhood has been maintained by two teams: Gandhinagar, VUDA Colony Phase II LIG and MIG House Owners’ Welfare Associations.
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However, ever since the colony’s creation, signs of progress seem to be bleak. With two colony associations vying with each other to maintain the serenity of the neighbourhood’s life, dozens of issues continue to haunt the residents. As a matter of fact, people have more negative aspects to share than the positive ones.