Raghavaiah Park cries for attention in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Raghavaiah Park located in the heart of the city has no use to the visitors particularly children and youngsters due to lack of play toys and equipment. The park wore a deserted look without visitors even in the summer holidays as people are reluctant to visit the park. The park has no canteen and parking facility.

Raghavaiah park was one of the biggest and parks in the city a few years ago. The park has hanging bridge connecting to B R Ambedkar park located other side of the Bandar canal. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation had spent lakhs of rupees for construction of water foundation, huge statues of idols and other animals to attract and entertain the visitors particularly the children.

Due to poor maintenance over the years the two parks both Raghavaiah park and Ambedkar parks have lost significance and visitors also reluctant to visit the park. Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is not showing interest to develop the park and attract the visitors. Not even greenery is also maintained in the park so that visitors can spend their evenings happily with children and other family members.

Assistant Director of Horticulture, VMC, K Pradeep Kumar said that VMC engineering department officials were preparing estimates to develop the Raghavaiah park and horticulture department would enhance greenery. He said proposals have been made to inaugurate the canteen in the park. He said that B R Ambedkar Park had closed due to extension of road by the national highway authorities and after completion of road extension, VMC officials would develop the park with more than Rs 20 lakh.

By D Anjaiah