IRR, ORR yet to see light of the day in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Permanent solution is not yet available for traffic problem in Srikakulam city. District headquarter Srikakulam is having 21 square kilometres area and it is improving towards Visakhapatnam and Amudalavalasa at brisk pace. Roads are narrow and not enough to cater to traffic requirements in the city.

Previously inner ring road (IRR) and outer ring road (ORR) are proposed in the city. IRR had been proposed from Day and Night Junction via Rama Laxmana, Surya Mahal, Arasavalli Mill, Potti Sriramulu Circle and Seven Roads Junction with an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore. Traffic rush is witnessing on these roads regularly and road widening is essential to ease congestion.

To widen these roads, buildings, shops, commercial establishments need to be removed on either side of the road. But due to political involvement and pressure, the proposal for IRR remained on paper and people are habituated to tolerate traffic problems. ORR proposed around the city by connecting nearby villages in Srikakulam Rural, Etcherla, Gara, Ponduru and Amudalavalasa mandals with an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore initially. But later these estimations had been enhanced to Rs 300 crore.

As per proposals, ORR started from Peddapadu via Kunukupeta, Sanivada, Kottapeta, Killipalem, Kusalapuram, Tamminaidupeta, Thotada, Ragolu, Chapuram, Patrunivalasa villages in Srikakulam rural, Etcherla, Gara, Ponduru and Amudalavalasa mandals. The aim of the ORR is to reduce traffic congestion on the city roads from rural areas and to divert it from outer side of the city. Because of stoppage of these two roads at proposal stage, traffic problem is being continued in Srikakulam.

"IRR and ORR both are at proposal stage and no further orders issued by the government in this regard so far" stated Srikakulam Town Planning and Engineering officials and engineers of roads and buildings department.