Civic Works Worth Over Rs 750 Crore Launched in Mangalagiri

VIJAYAWADA: Marking a major push for infrastructure and regional development in Mangalagiri constituency, education minister Nara Lokesh and Union minister of state for rural development Pemmasani Chandrasekhar on Wednesday heralded a series of development projects costing more than Rs 750 crore.

The flagship initiative was the launch of Phase-I works of the long-awaited underground drainage project for the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli municipal corporation area at a cost of Rs 604.32 crore. The project forms part of a comprehensive Rs 1,167.50-crore underground sewerage network planned across the corporation limits.

Lokesh said a modern drainage system was among the promises the 3-party alliance made to the people during the elections and action followed. The drainage project, he said, would provide a permanent solution to decades-old sewage problems and significantly improve public health and sanitation standards.

Chandrasekhar said the Centre and the state were working in close coordination to transform Mangalagiri into a model constituency through sustained infrastructure investments. He stressed that improving the quality of life of citizens remained a top priority.

The two ministers also laid the foundation stone for the long-pending Nidamarru railway overbridge that involves a cost of Rs 142 crore, in place of the existing railway level crossing on the Mangalagiri-Nidamarru route.

The four-lane bridge, spanning 767.5 metres, is expected to ease traffic congestion and provide uninterrupted connectivity between Mangalagiri, Amaravati, Tadikonda and the surrounding villages.

Officials said nearly 60 trains pass through the crossing every day, resulting in gate closures for eight to ten hours daily. Once completed, the ROB would drastically reduce travel time and support future urbanisation and economic growth in the region.

Earlier, Lokesh and Chandrasekhar inaugurated the newly developed Kaza East Lake Park, created with `3.30 crore in CSR funds. Spread around a 17.18-acre lake, the park features a 1.7-km walking track, an open gym, children's play area, ornamental landscaping and more than 12,800 plants belonging to 42 species.

The leaders also dedicated the modernised Vaikuntha Mahaprasthanam in Old Mangalagiri, developed at a cost of  Rs 3.25 crore through CSR support and local contributions. The upgraded crematorium includes modern cremation platforms, waiting halls, ritual rooms, a dining facility, mortuary boxes, solar lighting and other public amenities.

A large number of Telugu Desam, Jana Sena and BJP leaders, public representatives, officials and local residents participated in the programmes.