Visakhapatnam: Despite being located in the heart of the city, not many residents or colonies are fortunate enough to have the calm environs or social infrastructure as that of Aditya Nagar. Once canopied with guava and casuarina plantations, the area has evolved into a commercial hub over the years with many nationalised banks, private entities and educational institutions operating in the colony.
Atchi Srirama Reddy, a retired employee of BHPV and a first generation resident of the colony, reminisced how permission for the colony layout was accorded in 1972 and its transition from farmlands to a prime commercial hub took place.
"It took years for the Vizagites to take a fancy for the colony as it was a remote location and most of the roads were kutcha till the 90s. The colony also exemplified great unity of the residents until the advent of apartment culture," he added.
Mr. Reddy expressed a concern over the declining groundwater table in the colony. "When we constructed our house in 1980s, we just plumbed a borewell a few feet deep. Now, water is not available even if we go beyond 100 feet. It was Dr. V.S. Krishna College which was initially set up in the colony and then many other institutions and tuition centres made a beeline to the colony. The area has also turned into a commercial hub and now many banks are operating from the colony," he added.
When it comes to civic issues, Mr. Reddy complained over inadequate sanitation and showed a drain in the colony that was clogged with plastic and other trash. He also complained over the damaged drainage at his home and said the sanitary staff would clean the drains once in a blue moon.
D.V.S.C.S. Satyanarayana Murthy, another resident of the colony, said rainwater stagnates at some areas in the colony. He also rued of lack of parks in the vicinity other than an open space near the zonal office. "Given the remote location, chain snatching incidents are also on the rise in the colony and they are increasing," he added.
