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Swaraj Maidan set to turn into City Square
The sprawling “Swaraj Maidan” with a hoary past of hosting massive rallies addressed by Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan during the pre-Independence days is all set to give into the swanky City Square proposed to be built by the AP government with the participation of a Chinese firm.
Vijayawada: The sprawling “Swaraj Maidan” with a hoary past of hosting massive rallies addressed by Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan during the pre-Independence days is all set to give into the swanky City Square proposed to be built by the AP government with the participation of a Chinese firm.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) under the TDP ruling at a council meeting scheduled on Friday will pass a resolution, seeking to hand over the place to the Chinese firm GICC.
In addition, the resolution figuring on the council agenda also proposed to acquire an additional six acres of land presently hosting the offices of the Director General of Police, State guest house and electricity (ERO) office to add the 20-acre ground for the project to come up.A 60-ft road dividing the ground and the DGP office and the state guesthouse will be closed and converted into the project area.
The grounds presently house the judges’ quarters and irrigation department office in a corner opposite the Chief Minister’s camp office. The government planned to develop the city square at the place replicating Tiananmen Square in Beijing in China, meaning “heavenly peace”.
It is also proposed to convert the 60ft Dornakal road into a 100-ft road by expansion via the proposed city square connecting the Mahatma Gandhi road and Eluru road.
It may be recalled that the government proposed to build the city square in partnership with the Chinese firm in Private public partnership model. The square will showcase commercial complexes, entertainment and food zones, convention hall and recreation facilities.
The proposal raised the hackles of civil society representatives and opposition parties. Former minister Vadde Sobhanadhreeswara Rao filed a petition in the court seeking to stall the project and retain Swaraj Maidan. It was named so through a resolution by the VMC in 1984 in keeping with its pre-Independence glory.
A committee was constituted with representatives from all parties and civil society to launch a save Swaraj Maidan movement. Notwithstanding massive protests, the government has decided to go ahead with the project with the claim that it will become a feather in the city’s cap.
Meanwhile, the Friday’s session may be stormy in view of the belligerent mood of the YSRC and the Left parties which are opposing the city square project tooth and nail. The CPI-M state leader Ch. Babu Rao apprehended that the move for expansion of the Dhornakal road may result in a massive displacement of commercial and business establishments along the road in the heart of the city, causing immense financial loss.
By Md Ameen
