Beautification drive of Vijayawada draws criticism

Vijayawada: The beautification of Vijayawada, taken up at a cost of Rs 20 crore, is drawing criticism from the Opposition. The leaders of the Opposition parties are faulting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for concentrating only on the main roads but neglecting the inner areas in the city.

The old parks and common places are being neglected, they said, adding that only the thoroughfares were being painted colourfully and greenery being developed. The funds for the beautification are being drawn from the Centre’s Amrut scheme.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporatoin and the district administration are striving to beautify the city only to impress the investors, they said. The directions to beautify the city were issued by the chief minister following a sudden inspection.

The old parks, Raghavaiah Ambedkar and KL Rao, in the city still lack maintenance but new parks are being built on the highways and main roads. 

The VMC is developing a big green park on Sambamurthy Road. The Opposition parties suggested that the officials spend money on areas where the public live but not on the main roads and highways.

Investing on development of parks in places where people do not live but VIPs move is a bad idea, they said.

CPM leader Ch.Babu Rao said, “The concept of beautification itself is wrong. We have to provide areas to the public to relax and parks are meant for that purpose. Leaving all those parks without maintenance, the VMC is now focusing on the main roads, highways to showcase them to VIPs. Commercialising the parks by outsourcing the maintenance part of it to private parties will also draw criticism,” he warned.

VMC commissioner J. Nivas said that “Beautification works are going on in the entire city. Along with the main roads, we are spending funds on some parks too. All the greenery will help to create a good environment, which will help the people lead a healthy life. It should not be viewed as decoration alone.”