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Traders left in the lurch
Ch Murali Krishna, proprietor of New Jupiter Machine Tools Shop, located on Nehru Road in the Old City, was busy on
Vijayawada: Ch Murali Krishna, proprietor of New Jupiter Machine Tools Shop, located on Nehru Road in the Old City, was busy on
Sunday packing his belongings from the shop as he had decided to close the shop as the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation started
demolition drive on Nehru Road to widen the road for the ensuing Krishna Pushkaralu.
Murali Krishna was one of the dozens of traders and workers, who were concerned about their future, as their shops would be closed.
“This shop was started 35 years ago and it is the only source of livelihood to my family,” Murali Krishna said.
The VMC officials on Saturday night destroyed the shutter of the shop with heavy machinery. The trader claimed that he had obtained
stay order from the High Court and pasted the copy on the wall of the shop so that the officials would not demolish the shop. But, it has
no impact on the corporation. The officials were determined to widen the road and began demolition drive on Saturday night as per
markings made by the corporation staff. The corporation decided to widen the road from 40 feet to 60 feet to meet the Krishna
Pushkaralu rush.
Another trader D Murali, the owner of Sri Venkata Ramana Scrap and Iron Shop, said his great grandfather had started the scrap business
at the same shop nearly 100 years ago at Tarapet and now the fourth generation was running the shop. Murali was busy on Sunday
collecting the damaged materials in the shop.
Finally, the officials began demolition of shutters of the shops, compound walls of offices and commercial establishments.
The traders were alleged that the officials did not inform them about the demolition otherwise they could have saved their belongings.
Some buildings may lose 30 to 80 per cent of the total structure.
The VMC offered to give TDS bonds to the owners of the buildings.
Meanwhile, confusion prevailing since two months on widening of the Nehru Road. Finally, the road widening works began and may
continue some more days. Nearly, 300 people, including traders, workers and hamalis, lose their livelihood due to widening of Nehru
Road.
