The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Kondareddy fort premises to be spruced up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Kondareddy fort premises to be spruced up

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, AUG. 13. The Municipal Corporation is contemplating developing the landscape around Kondareddy fort in Kurnool city. The four century-old fort has been neglected for long. In fact, it attracted attention only after movie-makers started taking their "muhurtham shots" here.

The fort was built by Achyutarayalu, brother of Vijayanagara king Krishna Devaraya and was named after Kondareddy, a landlord from Nandikotkur, who was imprisoned in the fort by the Kurnool Nawab in the 19th century. Kondareddy died in the prison.

Clearing structures

First of all, the Municipal Corporation plans to clear certain commercial structures in the vicinity. Permanent lighting arrangements will be set up to illuminate the fort. An overhead water tank in a park on the fort premises has been blocking the view of the fort for long. Now, roads leading to the fort will be widened so that it can be seen from a distance.

Road widening

The corporation is also planning to widen the roads in old city to ease traffic congestion. Most of the roads are only 25 to 40 feet wide. The road- widening from Kallur Darwaja to One Town police station is nearing completion. Seventy-five structures were razed after paying a compensation of about Rs. 60 lakhs. About 22 structures are yet to be demolished.

The City Planner of the Corporation, K. Srinivasa Rao, said widening of Mandi Bazar Road from Kids World to Pula Bazar, Nehru Road from Cole's College to Chowk Bazar and Pula Bazar Road up to Ammavarisala are under serious consideration. The Mandibazar Road was only 25-40 ft wide, which would be widened to 60 ft. The Nehru Road too would be widened to 60 ft from the present width of 30 to 50 ft.

Traffic islands

Out of 14 traffic islands proposed in the city, four main junctions have been completed while the fifth one is nearing completion. The five-road junction, Rajvihar centre, Kids World and Visweswaraya junction have been completed while 75 per cent work was over on the Collectorate junction.

The traffic junctions at C. Camp Centre, Kondareddy fort, Birlagadda, Bangarupet, Raithu Bazar, Nandyal Checkpost, Birla centre, Mourya Inn and SP Bungalow will be taken up in the second phase. Waterfalls and fountains are arranged at all important junctions.

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