Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

An assault on the senses

Vidya K.S.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The first sight for most passengers outside the railway station would be a long line of autorickshaws, a few bedraggled rickshaw pullers and the unmistakably filthy footpath that is used by many as a public urinal.

"People believe that we are responsible for the dirty surroundings but it isn't so," says a physically challenged beggar Bipin who has been residing on the footpath for the past 20 years.

GVMC workers sweep the premises on a regular basis in the morning and evening.

But, when asked whether efforts are made to wash the wall, Bipin smiles and replies: "The only cleaning is the pasting of new movie posters over old ones."

The only toilet available in the vicinity is the one on platform no. 1 of the station.

For refreshments stall owner M. Ramachandra Rao, whose mobile stall has been working near the bus stop for the past 15 years, little has changed.

"Only this pavement has come up since I started my business here," he says.

GVMC plan

Admitting the dire neglect of the site opposite the railway station, Chief Medical Officer of the GVMC M.S. Raju says: "We are looking at a site to construct a public toilet near the station."

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

Stories in this Section

EdCET on June 10
`A strong public health system a must'
Spreading His message
Special package sought for north coastal Andhra
Service Tax to net 38,000 cr
Cell phone showroom burgled in Dabagardens area
An assault on the senses
Award for Green Park
Symposium on `diabetes'
Summer specials withdrawn
Holy ambience
Rare sight

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu