What used to be a farmland has been converted into a beautiful expanse providing home to 400 families in an extent of 23.82 acres.
Sri Venkateswara Colony near Sheelanagar that came up on a nearly 24-acre site charms one with a combination of huge bungalows and tall apartment blocks.
A part of Tunglam village, the colony’s land was mostly owned by farmers and had been sold out to employees of various sectors.
The place attracted many working in the Hindustan Shipyard, Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels, Port Trust, Export Processing Zone, and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in the year 1986. Later, they purchased the plots and built their dream houses.
Owing to lack of roads, decades ago, inundation was one of the serious problems faced by the residents.
But, seven years later, the scenario has changed.
“We have taken the initiative of laying roads associating with HUDCO. Now, the colony has 14 lanes in total, each leading to the dead-end of the road. With the downstream of Meghadrigedda passing through the adjacent colony, we are blessed with good supply of groundwater,” says N. Kalidas, Director of Institute for Solid Waste Research and Ecological Balance and a resident of the colony for the last 20 years.
Residents visit either Gopalapatnam or Gajuwaka for their shopping requirements. With the port road situated close to the main road, the city is just 9 km away.
Women in the colony say they have plenty of free time and wish to utilise it constructively.
A group of like-minded women formed Sri Venkata Padmavathi Mahila Mandali to pursue their hobbies.
“It’s a club of 100 women. Initially, the mandali created avenue to train the colony women in diverse crafts such as tailoring, cooking, and painting.
Now, due to lack of trainers, we focus on conducting social activities and awareness programmes,” says 22-year-old president of the mandali T. Annapoorna.
M. Rama, one of the residents, appears to be quite content with the bus facility.
“In no time, we can reach anywhere we want to go. The place is surrounded by a number of educational institutions. Icon Krishi Hospitals caters to our medical needs. Our mahila mandali and Sri Venkateswara Colony Welfare Association are in place and most of the issues are sorted out amicably,” she adds.
