Traffic jams suffocate Nunna village, bypass ignored

PNS n Vijayawada

Despite a bypass road being in use at Nunna for Vijayawada-Nuzvid State Highway, heavy and goods vehicles are travelling through the Nunna village resulting in severe traffic congestions. Sometimes, the traffic jams last about half an hour.

The Road & Building (R&B) Department constructed a bypass road at Nunna to reduce the traffic congestion in the village from the Mango Market at Nunna to Ramachandrapalem of Surampalli panchayat in Gannavaram Mandal on the Vijayawada–Nuzvid road, spending Rs. 10.50 crore. The road was opened to the public during Krishna Pushkaralu in 2016.

The Vijayawada–Nuzvid R&B State Highway is narrow in the Nunna village limits, and every day people are facing severe traffic problems. After several representations from the villagers, the State government sanctioned a bypass road for Nunna at a cost of Rs.10.50 crore. This amount was spent for constructing the bypass road and paying compensation to the farmers who had given their lands.

However, during the land acquisition and road construction, the State government faced various problems and at last, the R&B Department completed the road works in 2012. Meanwhile, hi-tension electrical lines from the Power Grid Corporation to other parts of the State created obstruction. The then Gannavaram MLA Dr Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan intervened in the issue. He discussed the matter with the Electrical Department and sorted out the problem.

Even after the road was opened, at the connection to Vijayawada–Nuzvid State Highway at the Mango market, the works have not been completed so far. Though the traffic police, R&B, Revenue, and Nunna Rural police officials inspected that place and proposed to construct a traffic island, it did not materialise.

In this situation, all heavy and goods vehicles are passing through the middle of the Nunna village, causing much trouble to the local people.

The Nunna residents and people’s representatives have complained to the officials concerned, yet no action was taken. All vehicles between Vijayawada and Nuzvid pass through the village. Sometimes, vehicle drivers quarrel among them and go to the police station. “Not only heavy and goods vehicles, long-distance vehicles like cars, RTC non-stop buses and others also pass through the village, which make matters worse,” said Govindu Naga Babu, a resident of Nunna. Several times, we complained to the officials about the traffic problems, but there was no action.

It creates severe inconvenience to the public, he added.“The Police Commissioner deputed a traffic police constable for Nunna to regulate traffic problems, but there was no improvement in the situation,” he said. The Commissioner should depute constables at the Power Grid Corporation and Ramachandrapalem crossroad. Then only the goods, heavy, RTC non-stop buses and other long-distance vehicles would not enter Nunna village, he said.Senior citizen Guntaka China Venkata Reddy said that a two-kilometre stretch in the village road is narrow and it leads to traffic jams. Vijayawada – Nuzvid, and Vijayawada – Sattupally RTC buses also pass through the middle of the village, but they have no stop in the village, he said.

Traffic, Police and R&B departments should convene a meeting with villagers and take opinions from them. They should come up with a permanent solution to the traffic jams in Nunna, he urged.