From a farm land to an urban jungle

Nandagiri Nagar was part of Akkayyapalem during pre-Independence days

The area, once green with paddy fields, banana and coconut groves, has now been transformed into an urban jungle, housing thousands of families.

Nandagiri Nagar, located between Srinivasa Nagar and Venkateswara Colony in old Akkayyapalem, has been dominated by the Gavara community for generations.

Its history dates back to the pre-Independence era as the colony has been part of Akkayyapalem.

Rechristened

In 1969, it was rechristened Nandagiri Nagar. Earlier, farming was the only way of life for the residents.

Over a period of time, a number of railway and port employees have started making the area their home. Today, the heavily crowded Nandagiri Nagar gives a picture of semi-urban area with a number of petty shops and old-structured houses dotting the lanes. From meat shops to kirana stores and cloth stores, the place has every product that a resident needs.

Welfare activities

Moreover, the Visakha Zilla Gowri Sevasangham, located close to the area, organises excursions, scholarship programmes, and a number of welfare activities, involving the colony people.

“Though the colony has changed over the years, there is a sense of belonging that connects us deeper. Most traditions we follow during special occasions like ‘jatara’ (carnival) brings out the rustic charm of rural life,” says S. Krishna Rao, who has been residing in Nandagiri Nagar since long.

A part of Yerri Gedda (storm water drain) flows through the neighbourhood. With slum-dwellers dumping domestic waste in it, the flow of the drain often gets clogged.

This apart, the residents have to put up with unsystematic disposal of garbage all along the road, improper maintenance of drains, and mosquito menace. They say that there is inordinate delay in clearing the overflowing bins that keep piling up for more than a week.