Residents demand more foot over bridges in Vijayawada
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Vijayawada: In the absence of foot over bridges (FoBs), citizens crisscrossing roads at the busiest intersections risk their lives, which has become a common sight in the city. Concerned about their safety, residents continue to demand the govt promptly construct sufficient numbers of FoBs, a long-pending demand that remains unaddressed.While residents say there is a need for a FoB at nearly every traffic junction, Vijayawada city currently has just one operational FoB opposite the Old Eenadu office on MG Road, situated strategically between Benz Circle and NTR Circle Junctions, two key junctions in the city.
"The FoB opposite the Eenadu office serves little purpose as it is mostly used by political parties for displaying flex banners and publicity materials, while intermediate students use it during morning and evening hours. On the other hand, Benz Circle, which is just 200 metres away and where thousands of people jaywalk daily, putting their lives at risk, is bereft of a FoB despite demands from the public to construct one," secretary of taxpayers association in Vijayawada, MV Anjaneyulu, told TOI."Before anything else, Vijayawada, as a city, first requires better footpaths that allow pedestrians to safely walk on the roads. Secondly, the city immediately requires FoBs at crucial junctions such as Benz Circle, Ramavarappadu Ring, Chuttugunta, Besant Road, RTC bus stand area, and Police Control Room junction."While the city earlier had two FoBs, one at the Eenadu office and another at PWD Grounds, the FoB at PWD Grounds was demolished to facilitate the construction of Dr BR Ambedkar Statue at Ambedkar Smriti Vanam Park, developed at the grounds by the previous state govt.A senior Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) official told TOI: "The municipal corporation readied a proposal to construct FoBs at Benz Circle, PCR Junction, Chutti Nagar, and a subway at KR Market area. However, the proposals didn't materialise due to unknown reasons.""I travel daily from Balaji Nagar to Patamata, and I take share autos from Varadhi Junction to Benz Circle Junction to Patamata for commuting daily to my workplace and vice versa. During my commute, I have to cross national highway roads at Varadhi and Benz Circle, making pedestrian safety dubious," says Nagamani, a resident of Balaji Nagar.
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