MP promises solution to highway issue

December 12, 2007

Ongole, December 12: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, MP, has assured people that he will prevail upon the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to lay the second bypass road away from town limits as part of widening the highway from the present four lanes to six lanes between Tada and Vijayawada.

Addressing a meeting got up by the Second Bypass Road Committee here on Tuesday, Mr. Sreenivasulu Reddy also promised to lead a delegation to the Union Minister of State for Surface Transport and also Prime Minister to achieve the demand. The MP said he had already taken up the issue with the Minister who responded favourably and issued directions not to widen the existing bypass road to six lanes in the town limits. So the officials concerned were not making any attempt to acquire the land for the purpose, he said.

But, as it would take some time to lay the second bypass road, heavy vehicles would continue to ply on the existing four-lane highway in the town limits, he said.
Traffic increases

Mr. Sreenivasulu Reddy pointed out that the Central government had agreed to widen the Chennai-Kolkata NH 5 from four lanes to six lanes in the stretch between Tada and Vijayawada to meet the needs of the increased traffic density.

The decision, however, caused agitation among people of Ongole and Chilakaluripet where the highway is passing through thickly-populated areas causing traffic and pollution problems. People began agitating for the second bypass road in these two towns and their concerns have been taken to the notice of the Government.

Committee president B. Ramagopala Reddy, who presided, said that people had opposed laying of the four-lane highway in 2002 itself. But, the NHAI officials ignored their objections and widened the road after giving an assurance to the High Court that the highway would be shifted while expanding it to six lanes.

The highway has virtually divided the town into two parts making it difficult for people to shuttle.

Ongole MLA, Balineni Sreenivasa Reddy, MLA, said that the Government wasted nearly Rs. 20 crores for constructing a flyover on the bypass road near Kurnool road. It should at least consider the opposition from people and shift the bypass away from town limits while widening it to six lanes.

Senior advocate and freedom fighter Karavadi Venkateswarlu stressed the immediate need to lay second bypass road as part of the expansion programme.

Source: siasat.com