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Tunnel turns asylum for destitutes
Vijayawada: Chittinagar tunnel turned out to be an asylum for destitutes. A number of poor people have made the pavements their dwellings which speak of the need for shelter homes in the city.
Vijayawada: Chittinagar tunnel turned out to be an asylum for destitutes. A number of poor people have made the pavements their dwellings which speak of the need for shelter homes in the city.
Built five decades ago under the guidance of prominent engineer KL Rao, the tunnel connects Chittinagar and Vidyadharapuram. The tunnel route has turned key for the past few years. It is the only route for the vehicles going towards Hyderabad from the city.
About 50 destitute can be seen sleeping on the pavement unmindful of hazards caused to them from the carbon monoxide released by vehicles.
During peak hours, the tunnel road presents heavy rush. During night, another 50 destitutes join others as they have shelter.
A majority of the homeless are beggars. Others include shelter-less people, who work for paltry sum in small hotels, eatery push carts on two sides of the tunnel road.
These homeless people occupy the pavements irrespective of the seasons. It has been a haven for them. While most of these poor people beg at places of worship during the day and get something to eat for the night, others wait until generous people offer food.
Krishna, who came from north coastal Andhra, works at a fast food centre and sleep in the tunnel during night to save money.
He uses his bag as pillow and sleeps when work is over. He cannot find a shelter better than tunnel as it was near his workplace at Vidyadharapuram. The wages are too little to afford a single room.
The story of Ramesh was different. He came to the city by train a few days ago and searching for livelihood. Having no money to take shelter in any lodge, he settled in the tunnel. He said he would take shelter in the tunnel till he finds any work in the city.
Some rag pickers are the oldest residents of this tunnel. A group of them carry out their work in the vicinity of the tunnel and gather in the night. After having dinner, they take rest here.
Except Nirmal Hriday Bhavan, there is no popular home for the destitutes in the city. However, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has been constructing two night shelter homes at Eluru locks and Ramarajyanagar at the tunnel.
An official of the VMC said that the construction might be completed within two months.
