CPI Protests GVMC User Fee For Park Walkers; Corporation Issues Clarification

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has decided to collect an annual fee of Rs 720 from users. The protest, organised by the CPI district committee, opposed the decision, terming it an anti-people measure.

CPI district secretary SK Rahman demanded withdrawal of the decision and alleged the move would harm public health and commercialise civic services. He said sports infrastructure should be provided without user fees and warned of further protest programmes if the decision is not revoked. A memorandum was submitted to the GVMC Additional Commissioner.

GVMC officials later issued a clarification rejecting allegations of a “tax on walking”. The Corporation stated that nearly Rs 35 crores has been spent on developing 45 parks in the past two years and another Rs 30 crores on modernising sports stadiums and playgrounds. It said no charges are collected in 180 public parks except at Shivaji Park, where a Rs 5 fee has existed for 25 years. At Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium, redeveloped for Rs 18 crore, a user charge of Rs 2 per day is collected for maintenance.

Officials said the fee is minimal compared with charges at facilities such as the Visakhapatnam Port Stadium, which collects Rs 100 per month.