Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Mayor allays fears on Bandar road widening

Staff Reporter

Andhra Chamber of Commerce appeals for limiting widening to 80 ft

VIJAYAWADA: Mayor Tadi Sakunthala has assured the city's business community that the widening of Bandar Road will not be strictly carried out to 120 ft. as proposed, for which markings on either side of the road have already been done.

"I feel that widening up to 90 ft. is okay. In this regard, I'm ready to stand on your side and contest any proposals made by officials for more widening," she said at a function on Thursday, where she was felicitated by the Andhra Chamber of Commerce.

Charter of demands

The Chamber secretary Muthavarpu Muralikrishna submitted a 15-point charter of demands to the Mayor, which included an appeal to limit the widening of Bandar Road to 80 ft. as was done in the case of Eluru Road.

Ms. Sakuntala recalled how the more widening of Eluru Road had led to some poor families losing their shelter. Neither Vijayawada had the kind of space that Hyderabad had for rapid expansion of the city nor was it necessary.

"I am of the view that the city's development is development of all 59 divisions, not just a couple of roads.

The development of the city should be decided by those who grew up here, not by those officials who come from far off States," she held.

The Mayor appreciated some of the initiatives taken by former Commissioner Praveen Prakash in respect of placing the responsibility of maintaining vacant plots on owners.

She said that a solution for increasing traffic problem could be found in developing the feeder road connecting Bandar road and Eluru road.

She also agreed with the Chamber's view that construction of a fly-over across Benz Circle was necessary to ease traffic congestion.

Ms. Sakuntala felt that the passage of National Highway - 5 through the city had led to Krishnalanka area being separated from the remaining part of the city.

Visits VAMBAY Colony

It had even resulted in some accidents to daily wage labour. She took the view that the beautification of canals would have to be taken up without disturbing those who had settled down on the banks. The Mayor said she was appalled by the low quality of construction of VAMBAY Colony on the city outskirts, which she had visited during the day. "Some houses are already collapsing as there is hardly any cementing done," she noted.

Ms. Sakunthala maintained that the city's development required large scale funding both from the State and Central Governments, and patchwork would not do.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kondapalli toys: adding splendour all around
`Adarsh Andhra Pradesh' is a sham, says Chandrababu Naidu
Assured payment gives some relief to temporary workers of APSRTC
Congress activists feel let down by corporators
Mayor allays fears on Bandar road widening
Maize purchase centres to be opened
Home guards recruitment
Around the City
In Vijayawada Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu