Alternative roads may derail Vijayawada Metro

Vijayawada: Even after a month of Chief Secretary Satya Prakash Tucker’s directions, the VMC, APCRDA, Irrigation and R&B departments are still exploring ways to pool funds to lay alternative roads and routes in Vijayawada city.

The CS had directed the four government agencies to initiate the process of laying of alternative roads, keeping in view the proposed Metro Rail works, scheduled from April.

At a high-powered committee meeting convened in the first week of January at Secretariat, the four agencies were advised to complete the laying of alternative roads to address traffic congestions, before April.

The HPC meeting recommended developing three roads of 6 km and nine bridges by VMC, three roads of 10.35 km by APCRDA, four roads of 18.9 km by R&B and one road of 12 km length by the irrigation department.

Since two important roads NH 5 and NH 9 pass through the city, the Amaravati Metro Development Corporation and Metro works may start on these two roads in April, Mr Tucker directed the government agencies to develop alternative roads for diversion of traffic, which have been identified by the police.

The four agencies were directed to finish laying of HT power lane road from Pantakalva to Ramavarappadu Ring of 3 km length, skew bridge to Yanamalakuduru Donka road of 2 km, Mahanadu road from Bellamvari Street to NH of 1 km, three bridges crossing Bunder canal at Yanamalakuduru, Gulzar bridge and YVR hospital, two limited height subways at Wambay Colony, four canal crossing bridges at Police Control Room and Tummalapalli Kshetraiah Kalakshetram, 4-km length Mahanadu Road to Poranki-Nidamanauru 100 Feet road, 4-km length Ayush hospital-New Auto Nagar Road, via Currency Nagar, 2.35-km Pantakalva road to New Auto Nagar Road, and lighting to 4-km 100 Feet New Auto Nagar Road before April.

Now, the big task before the four agencies is as to how to bring in funds for laying the roads, as the deadline is approaching.