No major grants for Vijayawada civic infra in state budget

Vijayawada: Vijayawada has once again been meted out a raw deal in the state budget, with no significant budgetary allocations or new developmental projects announced to upgrade the city's civic infrastructure."No funds were allocated specifically for the Budameru flood management project, and there was also no mention of plans to strengthen the storm water drains in the city. Overall, the govt did not provide any special funds to address the long-standing infrastructure issues in Vijayawada," said Taxpayers' Association president MV Anjaneyulu.Barring the solitary passing reference that the dream of travelling on the modern metro rail would soon become reality in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada in the budget speech, Anjaneyulu said there was no mention of any development projects in Vijayawada.TNNCREDAI Vijayawada president Dasari Rambabu said that they were hoping for the govt to allocate funds to infrastructural deficiencies in the Vijayawada suburban areas such as Kanuru, Poranki, Penamaluru, Goshala, and areas abutting the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam national highway, as these regions lack proper roads, drainage, and electricity lines."Developing infrastructure in Vijayawada suburbs will enable the realty to expand beyond Vijayawada city and provide affordable housing options to middle-class families on the city outskirts. However, there were no significant budgetary allocations made to address these issues in Vijayawada city in the state budget," Rambabu said. He added that they now hope that the govt executes development works from the budgetary allocations proposed under the MAUD department."Fear of extreme floods in the Budameru rivulet and likely submergence of localities abutting the rivulet is a big cause for concern for the city residents and is also acting as an impediment, preventing investors from investing and expanding real estate along Vijayawada IRR, Gunadala, and other areas. We urge the govt to take up Budameru strengthening works through the budgetary allocations made to the irrigation department," Rambabu added.