VARWA warns of stir if Beach Road project is not shelved

‘Cramming the stretch will spell trouble for residents’

Continuous addition of development projects to Beach Road is fuelling traffic congestion, say resident welfare associations.

At a time when the integrated naval museum and underground parking project proposed on the Beach Road is being opposed from various quarters, members of Visakahapatnam Apartment Residents Welfare Association (VARWA) and NIVAS that represents several residents’ welfare associations warned that they would take agitation path unless the projects were shelved.

The decision was made at roundtable organised with various resident welfare associations at Visakha Public Library here on Sunday. Former Chairman of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education K.C. Reddy came down heavily against the project, saying that Beach Road already has a number of projects and adding the integrated museum would cause inconvenience to the local residents.

‘Pollution on the rise’

“Already, traffic congestions have become an order of the day on Beach Road that is dotted with several tourist attractions. Pollution levels are on the rise. Adding more facilities will spell troubles,” Mr. Reddy said, adding that Smart City does not mean only developing the stretch from Park Hotel Junction to Naval Coastal Battery. Now, focus should be on other areas too.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University Balmohan Das said that the focus should be on solving the parking issue and developing slums rather than building another tourism project on the Beach Road. He also pointed out that there was no need of another convention centre on the Beach Road.

Secretary of Uttarandhra Abhivrudhi Vedhika A. Aja Sarma said that Beach Road had become a business centre for the government. “The road has become one of the most congested area and is not at all pleasant when compared to the past,” he said.

Several speakers also described about possible environmental hazards and violation of the CRZ norms if the projects were undertaken.

Others opined that Beach Road must be preserved for future generations for which further developmental activities should be stopped.

Representation submitted

VARWA General Secretary B.B. Ganesh said that with too many developmental activities, the Beach Road had been losing its very character. “There are a number of beaches in the city and it’s better to focus on those if the officials want to execute the project, but not RK Beach Road,” he said.

“We have submitted a representation to VMRDA. More meetings and agitations will be conducted opposing the project in the coming days,” he said.