CRDA ensures smooth ride for CM’s convoy to IGC
HYDERABAD: Officials of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) who neglected development of the existing roads, leading to the Interim Government Complex (IGC) at Velagapudi all these days, however, acted with unusual haste in laying a road for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to reach Secretariat at Velagapudi without any hassles.
Even as the activity commenced at the IGC in the first week of October with the employees shifting to the IGC from the Secretariat in Hyderabad, which subsequently increased the vehicular traffic on the existing narrow roads leading through the capital villages, the officials did not bother to carry out road repairs to avoid traffic congestion.
The reason cited by the CRDA officials is that, since they are going to develop new roads as part of improving connectivity to the capital city, there is no need for attending on the existing roads. The officials say that while the works of the Seed Capital Access Roads are under progress, tenders have been invited for seven more roads in the capital area.
But, the situation changed as soon as the Chief Minister began discharging his duties from the IGC. The CRDA officials began works on the 2 km road leading from Karakatta to the outskirts of Venkatapalem village.
After executing the repair works of the road, the officials laid a fresh BT layer and strengthened both the sides of the road within days.
The villagers of Venkatapalem, though expressed happiness over the road getting a new look, they sought to know why the officials failed in doing the same for some months despite the rise in vehicular traffic.
Speaking to Express, a CRDA official on condition of anonymity admitted that the road was laid for the sole purpose of allowing the smooth passage for Chief Minister’s convoy to the IGC from his residence on the river bank. Though, there is a demand for taking up repair works to the road leading to the IGC from Vijayawada via Undavalli, which became very busy with most of the employees shuttling to the IGC either from Vijayawada or Undavalli, there is no response from the CRDA officials.
“It is the only route for the buses to reach the IGC from Vijayawada. A nearly 2 km stretch of the road was damaged and crossing it became a herculean task for vehicle riders,” said Kesava Rao, an employee of IGC.