Pot-holed roads bother commuters

Visakhapatnam: City roads suffered damage due to the slew of cyclones and downpour that lashed the city and surrounding areas, giving nightmarish ride to commuters.

At present, roads repaired after cyclone Nilam are also damaged. The potholes have grown so big proving dangerous for motorists. Moreover, motorists are also forced to go slow on the bumpy roads.

The GVMC officials said they were planning to repair the roads and that they had even submitted a proposal to the state government seeking funds under disaster relief.

The damage to roads, drains, retaining walls and water supply lines has been estimated at Rs 25.70 crore.

Roads in a stretch of 150 km have been damaged and it is estimated that restoration works of roads alone would cost around Rs 11.82 crore.

Several main roads in China Waltair, Peda Waltair, Seetammadhara, Akkayyapalem, Dwarakanagar, Seetampeta, Muralinagar, Madhavadhara, Kancharaplem and Jnanapuram, MVP Colony, and Beach Road are witnessing traffic snarls.

Roads from Siripuram junction to Pedawaltair and MVP colony areas have received major damages and are ridden with potholes, making the ride terrifying.

GVMC officials said they normally take up road repairs whenever they are damaged due to rains. Though the corporation had not received assistance for repair of roads, it had taken up the works of those damaged due to cyclone Nilam from its own resources.

The black topping done at that time got washed away in the recent rains.

Now, the GVMC is planning to take up repairs through short tenders.

Even the National Highway too got damaged due to overflowing water.

On National Highway-16, many stretches at Anandapuram, Anakapalle, Tuni and other areas are damaged.