Visakhapatnam: The proposed expansion of the road from the Jagadamba Junction to the Queen Victoria statue in Visakhapatnam seems to be a bitter pill to swallow for the businessmen and house owners of nearby places.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has planned to widen the road to 100 feet in the I Town area of the city - which is often described as an area neglected by officials - to give a facelift and enhance the outlook. However, many residents are opposing the move as it could bring down thousands of shops and houses.
Treasurer of the Visakhapatnam Gold and Silver Jewellery Merchants’ Association Y. Sudhakar explained: “Not only the owners, the expansion could also affect the livelihood of thousands of workers. The GVMC officials embarked on this project citing lack of parking place but if they can build a multi-storeyed parking lot at Kurupam Market, the expansion could be avoided,” said Mr. Sudhakar.
“As an alternative, the officials can also convert the market stretch into a walking bazaar as in many cities across the world,” suggested Mr. Sudhakar.
On the other hand, views of some shop owners reflected cautious optimism.
Chandra Murali, owner of a footwear shop near Poorna Market, felt that the road expansion is inevitable considering the needs of future generations. “If the expansion is limited to 60-80 feet, many can survive and continue their businesses at the same place,” he added.
In some places, the GVMC officials have laid markings for expansion. While it would be expanded for nearly 20 feet on both sides at the widest stretch of the lane, it will be stretched up to 32 feet in the narrow part of the lane.
Alluding to the city’s heritage and history, K. Subrahmanyam, owner of a fancy store, said anicent structures such as the Hindu Reading Room in the area might get affected due to the expansion. “I request the officials to look into the heritage angle before initiating the expansion works,” he said.
When contacted, GVMC chief city planner D. Venkata Ratnam informed that they would convene a meeting with all stakeholders to clear their doubts. “We would take all the things, including providing support and alternative sites for the displaced, structural compensation and heritage of the Old City, into consideration before going ahead with the project. The meeting would be held in 2-3 days and it will help mitigate fears of the residents,” added Mr. Venkata Ratnam.
