The Hindu : Front Page : Greater Vijayawada idea moves forward

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Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006
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Greater Vijayawada idea moves forward

K. Srimali

Gulzar's proposal to come up for discussion at general body meet

VIJAYAWADA: After remaining just as an academic issue for long, the idea of Greater Vijayawada has now moved a step forward with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) taking the lead.

A resolution proposed by VMC Commissioner Natarajan Gulzar, suggesting to the State Government to merge 12 surrounding panchayats with the corporation, will come up for discussion in the general body meeting on Friday.

The resolution lists out Kanuru, Yanamalakuduru, Tadigadapa and Poranki in Penamaluru mandal and Nidamanuru, Enikepadu, Prasadampadu, Patapadu, P. Nainavaram, Ambapuram, Jakkampudi, Gollapudi and part of Nunna panchayats for merger.

Rapid growth

The resolution points to rapid growth of population in the present limits and increasing congestion of roads, which call for expanding the city limits. Officials also say that creation of basic civic infrastructure in the surrounding panchayats entails huge expenditure, which can't be done by the panchayats themselves.

The merger, if and when approved by the State Government, will add 98.03 square km of area to the present area of VMC.

The last occasion when any new area was added to the VMC was in 1989 when parts of Payakapuram and Kundavari Kandrika, which were left out in the 1985 merger, were included.

The idea of Greater Vijayawada already figures in the city development plan prepared by the VMC for seeking funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The CDP refers to the Vijayawada Urban Agglomeration area and takes the population of a few surrounding villages into account.

Official sources say that the general body may choose to refer the resolution to an ad hoc committee, where much of the discussion will take place. Once it receives the consent of the general body, it will be sent to the State Government.

Mr. Gulzar is of the view that even if the process takes a long time, it will spur a discussion on the need for Greater Vijayawada.

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