No need for 220-km ORR in capital region

*Vadde points out that the NHAI already proposed a bypass road from Venkatapalem to Pedautapalli which diverts traffic away from city
*Says CM failed to protect interests of farmers

Vijayawada: Former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao raised objections over the proposed outer ring road at a stretch of 220-km by acquiring nearly 7,700 acres of land in the Amaravati capital region.

He said as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) proposed a bypass road from Venkatapalem near Chinakakani of Guntur district to Pedautapalli via Surayapalem to divert the traffic coming from Chennai to Howrah without touching Vijayawada city, it would serve as an outer ring road and there was no necessity for another outer ring road by disturbing large number of villages and agricultural lands.

Speaking to the mediapersons here on Wednesday, the former minister alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been trying to favour corporate companies mortgaging the interests of farmers. He said the government is trying to impose restrictions on lands in capital region in the name of agricultural zone to increase the demand for lands in Amaravati seed capital. He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has failed to protect the interests of farmers. They were not getting remunerative price and the palm oil farmers were planning to give up cultivation fearing losses. Vadde said that the government should give priority to protect the interests of farmers.

In a letter submitted to the CRDA Commissioner over the objections on capital master plan, the former minister said surrounding villages of Vijayawada city were already developed and there was no meaning in declaring them as agricultural zone in the master plan. He raised objection over including Kankipadu and Vuyyur in Agricultural zone-I. He suggested declaring Vijayawada, Kankipadu, Vuyyur, Pamarru and Machilipatnam as growth corridors as there was an opportunity for development of industries with the grounding of Machilipatnam port works.

He said if the government concentrated on irradiation unit at Nuzvid the mango farmers of the region would benefit with export opportunities. Vadde said that the government should concentrate on developing facilities including marketing and cold storage for export of aqua products in Kaikalur and Nagayalanka region.

The former minister said that the government should take initiative to set up processing units of turmeric and chillies in Tenali and Sattenapalli region.