10 MLAs raise objections to VMRDA's master plan
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Visakhapatnam: The objection submission period, part of the ongoing revision exercise of the VMRDA master plan–2041, concluded on July 17. Over the past two days, nearly 10 MLAs and other public representatives from Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam visited the VMRDA office to submit representations outlining their objections and suggestions regarding the proposed master plan roads and other projects proposed in the plan.
While the majority of objections and recommendations pertain to the proposed road extensions across these three districts, some submissions focused on designating areas for parking facilities and enhancing green cover. Several MLAs advocated for prioritising the development of master plan roads while avoiding alignments that pass through VMRDA-approved layouts. They voiced the concerns of residents in their respective constituencies regarding various aspects of the proposed developments.
Among those who submitted suggestions were Vizag North MLA Vishnu Kumar Raju, Vizag South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, Vizianagaram MLA Aditi Gajapathi Raju, Yelamanchili MLA S Vijay Kumar, Pendurthi MLA P Ramesh Babu, Vizag West MLA Gana Babu, Vizag East MLA V Ramakrishna Babu, and Nellimarla MLA L Naga Madhavi.
As part of the master plan-2041, drafted under the previous YSRCP administration, at least 30 major and arterial roads are proposed to be widened—some by as much as threefold—potentially impacting existing commercial and residential zones.
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For example, during public consultations held on July 16 and 17, there was a request to halt the road widening from Nowroji Road to Waltair Main Road in Daspalla Hills. Similarly, locals requested that the existing 40-foot road in Madhurawada survey number 374/1 be retained instead of widening it to 60 feet.
GVMC corporator AJ Stalin submitted a letter requesting the continuation of a 60-metre road, rather than the proposed 80-metre road, from Lankalapalem to Sheila Nagar.
Members of the Visakhapatnam Cooperative House Building Society have requested that their land near Diamond Park be exempted from inclusion in the proposed green belt. Another request was made to reclassify land in Gambheeram gram panchayat (survey Nos. 71–78, 81, 82, 111–139) from an eco-sensitive zone to a mixed land use zone. Villagers from Bheemili Chinna Bazaar appealed for the removal of a proposed road that would result in displacement from their homes.
The secretary of the Fisherman Youth Welfare Association recommended incorporating fish landing centres into the master plan to support livelihoods in approximately 84 fishing villages across the combined Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts.
Nellimarla MLA Lokam Madhavi submitted suggestions for changes to road alignments within her constituency, including routes such as Bhogapuram–Subbannapeta, Bhogapuram–Kongavanipalem–Mukkam, Bhogapuram–Baireddipalem, Denkada–Singavaram, and Denkada–Nathavalsa.
Speaking to TOI, VMRDA chairman MV Pranav Gopal said that the response from stakeholders regarding the consultation and feedback process has been overwhelmingly positive. "Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed us to ensure transparency in bringing out the master plan. Accordingly, we undertook a comprehensive process of collecting suggestions and feedback. A white paper on the master plan will be soon released," Pranav said.
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