Speed up Garuda Varadhi works in Tirupati

Tirupati: Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) Commissioner PS Girisha urged the officials of Smart City Project (SCP) and Corporation Engineering wing to speed up the works of Garuda Varadhi.

The Commissioner, who held a meeting with the officials of Corporation and SCP here on Saturday to review the progress of various works taken up under 'smart city project' wanted M/s Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, the contractor of the elevated smart corridor 'Garuda Varadhi' to strive to complete the works ahead of schedule keeping in view the traffic problems and also inconvenience the people in the pilgrim city are facing due to the works of Varadhi meandering through the middle of the city.

It is the responsibility of the executioner of the works to ensure no problems to the public and traffic due to the works, Commissioner told the firm officials. The duration of the Rs 684 crore Varadhi Project is 24 months but it was slowed with the works stopped after change of government but was resumed following the clearance from the 3-member committee set up by the State government to go into the status of the major works taken up in the previous government period.

Afcons representatives, who were present, detailed the works so far done including 107 piers out of 132 castings completed while soil investigation is in progress. The works on the project commenced on February this year aimed to ease traffic congestion in the city by ensuring the direct passage of pilgrim vehicles coming from outside through the elevated corridor without touching the busy areas of the city.

The civic chief urged the officials to complete the development of parks on priority basis including Prakasam Park and Padmavathi Park in Baragipatteda and the park in KB Layout area. The development of the parks with basic facilities will be useful not only the locals but also visiting pilgrims to spend their leisure time, he explained.

Seeking the residents to support the MCT perform well in the Swachh Survekshan survey, the commissioner directed the Health department to ensure cent per cent segregation of household waste. Health works and ward volunteers should jointly work to create awareness among the residents for following the waste segregation at source.