No walking fee in any Vizag park, says GVMC amid rumours

Visakhapatnam: Amid reports claiming that the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is collecting a high "tax" from walkers in its parks, the civic body has clarified that no such fee is being collected in any park across the city. GVMC officials said that around 180 parks are maintained either directly by the corporation or in coordination with resident welfare associations, and no walking fee is being charged anywhere.GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg said that the reports claiming the corporation is collecting a tax for walking in parks and stadiums are false and misleading. "Keeping public health and recreation in mind, GVMC has developed 45 parks in the last two years for Rs 35 crore. Several playgrounds and stadiums have also been modernised with Rs 30 crore to improve facilities for citizens. The Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium has recently been developed with Rs 18 crore and is being managed directly by GVMC without being handed over to any private agency. The Rajiv Sports Complex in Gajuwaka and the Indira Priyadarshini Stadium have also been developed with Rs 10 crore each, with regular funds being spent on their maintenance every month," said the commissioner."Even in parks maintained by resident welfare associations, no walking fee is being collected. I urge people not to believe such propaganda and to note that no fees are being collected in GVMC parks," added Garg.