VIJAYAWADA: Even as citizens facing the wrath of heavy traffic snarls due to playing of heavy vehicles on city roads is a daily affair and local politicos and officials are contemplating on various alternatives to keep the problem at minimum, the under-construction truck terminal at Ibrahimpatnam is yet to be completed even after 10 years.The state government had given 76 acres of land for the project and the VijayawadaGunturTenaliMangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTMUDA) was entrusted to develop infrastructure required for the truck terminal.The aim of setting up of the terminal was to check the entry of heavy vehicles including lorries and trucks into the city, which would help in easing out the traffic snarls on the city.The VGTMUDA developed some infrastructure on the land with the fund from selling of the land to as many as 780 transports offices, shops and other commercial establishments. But, even after 10 years have been passed since the project took off, necessary infra for a truck terminal including petrol bunk, bus terminal, branch of a nationalised bank, cinema theatre, hotels, lodges are yet to be developed.The land still remain unused for the purpose despite a fund of `10 crore have been spent.With the increased traffic congestions on city roads due to plying of heavy vehicles, officials held several meetings on the completion of the project in the past. But, it never materialised.The traffic congestions on city roads is increasing day by day. The loading and unloading operations of a majority of lorries are being done in One Town area, resulting in frequent traffic jams. And the lorries have to enter the city to reach Auto Nagar in Patamata area.With the lorry owners parking their vehicles in both sides of the road at busy centres, traffic officials are also finding it difficult to control the congestions.It may be noted that officials held meetings with lorry owners and other stake holders of the truck terminal project three months ago.The lorry owners asked the officials to provide minimum facilities in the truck terminal like drinking water, electricity and roads.Speaking to Express, Krishna District Lorry Owners Association president, Potluri Ragavendra Rao, said that they had expressed their willingness to run their business at the terminal if provided the necessary infrastructures at the site.It would be a help both to lorry owners and traffic officials if the Ibrahimpatnam terminal functions soon. It would ease the traffic snarls on city roads as all the heavy vehicles would halt at the terminal, he said. Krishna District alone has 40,000 lorries and trucks.Assistant commissioner of police (Traffic), AV Ramana, said this newspaper that the VGTMUDA vicechairman GSRKR Vijay Kumar held a meeting with all the stake holders 20 days ago. The UDA has decided to begin the works at the site for early completion of the project.
Comments
0 comment