MCT takes up development works

Development initiatives in the pilgrim city include laying roads and water pipelines, construction of drains and culverts, desilting of drains, cleaning and improving facilities in the graveyards

Tirupati: After a long gap, the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) took up development works on a large scale, covering all the 50 divisions in the pilgrim city.

The long list of development initiatives which is going on in full swing, since two weeks in the city include laying of cement and Black Top (BT) roads, construction of drains, culverts, desilting of drains, cleaning and improving facilities in the graveyards, laying of pipeline to augment water supply in the areas where drinking water supply is tardy and repairs to underground drainage system and construction of community toilets.

Notable among the works are laying of BT roads in MR Palli which was earlier panchayat and merged with the corporation including from West Church to Collector's camp office and from there to MR Palli police station.

This apart, laying of a BT road from the main entrance of SVRR Hospital to BIRRD Hospital in SVRR Hospital Complex. However, the internal roads in the sprawling hospital which is direly needed by the patients was not taken up which the hospital authorities seek the MCT to include in the new works.

In all, 110 road works with a total cost of Rs 12 crore was taken up in the city and is expected to be completed in a week or two. Among other development works most important one was laying of pipeline from Leela Mahal road to ELSR Tank to augment water supply for resolving the water problem in the localities including Peddakapu Street and layout, Chinnakapu Street, Jabbar layout, Ashok Nagar, Korlagunta and Reddy Colony which are thickly populated areas in the city.

Drain reconstruction in 15 streets was completed and culvert construction in Karanam Mitturu, Lakshmipuram, Subhash Nagar and Kothapalli is underway to ensure smooth flow of drainages in these areas which are till now prone for frequent clogging of drains flowing on the roads causing lot of inconvenience particularly during rains. The cleaning of two graveyards in Rajiv Nagar and Santhosh Nagar was also taken up as part of development initiatives. An engineering official said that apart from the road works 120 works including water supply pipeline, drains, culverts, toilets etc, were taken up with a total outlay of Rs 14 crore.

“Rs 26 crore worth works were pooled up under various funding sources including corporation general fund, 13th Finance Committee, state government municipal grant and also funds from various state departments,” he explained. The denizens complained that the works in some areas are causing lot of inconvenience as they were taken up during busy day time and also in some cases without notice.