After CM visit, drainage works gather pace in city

Vijayawada: Storm water drain project works were hastened in Vijayawada city in the last there months after the surprise checks made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in October 2017.

Highlights:

• Chief Minister’s surprise checks in October changed the pace of works
• 60 km works completed by the end of January 2018

The Chief Minister has expressed his ire on the officials during his surprise check in different parts of the city and asked the officials to complete the works by 2019. During the last three months, the L and T department had completed nearly 60 km works.

Previously, the company had competed only 18 km work since they started in March, 2017. In the last seven months from March to October only 18 km works were completed. The Union government had sanctioned Rs 461 crore to Vijayawada city three years ago to get rid of from the water logging problem in the rainy season.

Dozens of colonies across the city had been facing severe problem due to logging of waters. Most of the roads in areas like Suryarao Pet, Gandhi Nagar, Moghalrajpuram don’t have side drains after UGD works completed.

Even main roads like Eluru road, Five number route in Moghalrajpuram, Ganapatirao road in I Town, Ajit Singh main roads have no proper storm water drainage facility. Consequently, denizens particularly vehicle users are suffering from many hardships. To resolve the long-pending problem, the Union government sanctioned Rs 461 crore.

Earlier, the project report has been prepared for execution of works by dividing the city into six basins. Due to administrative reasons, the works started very late in March 2017. But, continued at snail’s pace till October 2017.

But, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s surprise check in October has changed the scenario to some extent. The L and T had roped in 700 workers and using modern machinery for laying the side drains. Storm water drain works divided into four parts, excavation, PCC works, raft and finally wall construction with precast system. The total length of the project is 443 km. Length of major drains is 142 km and minor drains length is 301 km.

“So far, we have completed nearly 60 km works and been trying to hasten the works,” said executive engineer of the Public Health Department N Prasada Rao. He said the average construction works is 700 to 800 meters per day and efforts were on to lay 1,000 meters per day. He said the workers are facing some problems with the existing old drains, drinking water pipelines and cable wires. He said all precautions should be taken to avoid damages to other pipelines and cables, he added.

Ayodhya Nagar is one of the most problematic areas in the city during the rainy season, may get relief this season because 3,000 meters work has been completed. In Madhura Nagar area, 1.50 km main road drains work was completed. Suryaraopet, which is one of the biggest commercial areas of the city, is also facing water logging problem for many years.

More than 1,300 meters work has been completed in Suryarao Pet. Similarly, storm water works are continuing in Krishna lanka, Wynch Pet, Vivekananda Colony, Currency Nagar, New RR Pet, Indira Nayak Nagar and other parts of the city.

Minister for municipal administration and urban development P Narayana and collector B Lakshmikantham are reviewing the progress of the works regularly and instructing the officials and L and T company representatives to hasten the works and complete by 2019-end. If one kilo meter works are completed per day, it will take more than a year to complete the 443 km road.