VIJAYAWADA: Traffic congestion has been creating troubles for the residents of Mythri Nagar, Gunadala as the issue has remained unresolved for years together despite people raising a hue and cry.
The much-needed development work to be executed by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) in the locality is the widening of the road stretch between Gunadala and Sunnapubhatilu Centre, which has become the only exit and entry point to reach Moghalrajpuram from Eluru Road.
“Traffic diversions have aggravated so much so that I fear the safety of my children,” laments Ch David Raju who lives on the main road. He further added ‘’The vehicular movement has picked up pace with APSRTC operating its services through the locality. Most of the four wheelers who need to reach Tikkle Road and MG Road from Bethlehem Nagar and Gunadala take this route as it cuts down time and fuel. The civic body should widen the stretch on a war-footing to ease traffic congestion in the locality.’’
Many commercial vehicles are parked on Gunadala. Residents complain unclaimed vehicles obstruct pedestrian movement as their haphazard parking eats up space on the already shrunk pavements. “Officials concerned should shift the abandoned vehicles as they are obstructing vehicular movement,’’ said G Usha Rani, a resident.
Lack of side drains is another major problem plaguing the locality. Residents have not seen any sign of underground drainage (UGD) works so far. B Vishnu Kumar, a resident said, “Residents in this locality, mostly middle class families, have to shell out considerable sums for cleaning septic tanks periodically. Our appeals to VMC officials went futile as they have not integrated with main sewage network.”
Water problem is another area of concern. Though the civic body is supplying water regularly through high pressure pipelines, the quantum received in the tail-end areas is meagre. A majority of slum dwellers had applied for new connections under the tap connection scheme.
Speaking to Express, VMC chief engineer P Adiseshu said the civic body has already conducted a survey to widen the road stretch between Christurajapuram to Gunadala before Krishna Pushkaralu but the works have not materialised till date. The tenders would be finalised by Commissionerate of Tenders as the estimated cost of the project is more than `2 crore and the civic body has no power to approve such high tenders. Soon after, the works would commence and will be completed within a month. Once the road carpeting is completed, public health department officials would conduct a survey and develop storm water drains in the locality, he added.