Candidates vow to rid city of tra c woes

Voters across constituencies are seen complaining about the same issue, forcing the candidates to promise to take adequate measures to alleviate the problem in the city

The long-pending issue of ‘panchagramalu lands’ (Simhachalam temple lands), rampant pollution, a couple of closed industries, railway level-crossing gates and tra“c congestions are some of the issues, which pose a challenge to the candidates contesting from Visakhapatnam West Assembly constituency, which was formed after the delimitation exercise in 2008.

The total electorate of 2,09,424 (as on March 16, 2024), includes: 1,06,161 women, 1,03,253 men and 10 transgenders. The constituency is dominated by the ‘Gavara’ community to which both the YSRCP and the TDP candidates belong.

The panchagramalu issue has not been resolved by the successive governments.

The problem was reportedly created by the then TDP government, which unilaterally had given ryotwari pattas to the Simhachalam Devasthanam during 1996 and 1997.

The promise made by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, during his padayatra before the 2019 election, on coming up with a solution to the longpending issue remains unful‰lled.

“The RDO court in Visakhapatnam as also the three-member committee of o“cials, appointed by the government, on the directions of the High Court in 2014, had declared the pattas given by the government as invalid.

But, the TDP government instead of abiding by those directions, had banned any ‰nancial transactions or constructions on these lands and buildings,” says A. Aja Sarma, general secretary of the Forum for Development of North Andhra (FDNA).

The styrene monomer vapour leak from the LG Polymers plant at RR Venkatapuram, on May 7, 2020, which resulted in the death of at least 12 persons, will continue to haunt the people of this constituency, particularly those living in and around Gopalapatnam area, for the rest of their lives.

The compensation of ₹1 crore, announced by the State government, to those who died in the accident, was appreciated by everyone, including the Opposition leaders. The public sector Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), which was shut down long ago, was taken over by a corporate group, which failed to reopen the plant.

Pethakamsetty Gana Venkata Reddy Naidu (P.G.V.R. Naidu), popularly known as Gana Babu, who won the Visakhapatnam West Assembly seat in the last two elections, is eyeing a hat- trick in the general elections, to be held on May 13.

YSRCP has ‰elded Adari Anand Kumar, Chairman of Visakha Dairy, to take on Mr. Gana Babu. He is the son of Adari Tulasi Rao, founder of Visakha Dairy, under whose leadership the dairy had grown from strength to strength. A keen contest is likely between the TDP and YSRCP candidates this time.

CPI nominee Attili Vimala, who has the support of the INDIA alliance, is also campaigning vigorously in the constituency.

Vehicular tra“c has emerged as a key issue for the candidates in Visakhapatnam in the ongoing election campaigns. Not only the candidates vying for the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha Constituency but other contenders from various Assembly constituencies have pledged to the voters their commitment to tackle tra“c congestion.

They have also vowed to initiate the construction of •yovers in di–erent areas, demonstrating their dedication to resolving this pressing issue.

As Visakhapatnam experienced rapid growth, tra“c congestion has escalated into a major problem. Several years ago, the State government promised to construct 12 •yovers in different parts of the city, such as Gajuwaka, Maddilapalem, Hanumanthuwaka Junction, and Car Shed Junction. However, the construction of these •yovers has yet to commence.

In response to the public’s concerns, which were voiced during their election campaigns and political programmes before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was enforced, the candidates have been promising measures to alleviate tra“c issues.

TDP candidate Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and YSRCP candidate from

M.V.V. Satyanarayana in the East Constituency have presented also promised to complete the •yovers at Hanumanthawaka Junction and Maddilapalem.

Completion of 60-feet road extension works from Lepakshi junction to Old Head Post o“ce in One Town to ease tra“c congestions has been a key poll promise by the candidates from South Constituency—Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar of the YSRCP and

Vamsikrishna Srinivasa Yadav of the JSP.

Similarly, both the candidates, Ganta Srinivasa Rao (TDP) and Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao (YSRCP), have promised to initiate works for the construction of a •yover at Car Shed Junction and take relevant steps to ease tra“c issues faced by the residents of PM Palem and Madhurawada.

Voters from the West Constituency have also complained about tra“c issues between NAD Junction and Pendurthi and NAD Junction and Gnanapuram due to the encroachment of footpaths and service roads.

In response, the candidates have proposed to take adequate steps to address the issue.

Gajuwaka is another constituency where the candidates promised to ease tra“c congestion between Akkireddipalem and Kurmannapalem Junction. which has seen many road accident cases.

P.G.V.R. Naidu from TDP is facing Adari Anand Kumar from the YSR Congress in the constituency

FILE PHOTO Several years ago, the government promised to construct 12 flyovers in di erent parts of the city.