GVMC launches ‘Operation Lungs' to reclaim encroached open spaces in Visakhapatnam
The Town Planning wing initiated the operation on Saturday, clearing illegal occupations from 15 designated open spaces across various approved layouts and zones. The move follows a meeting held on July 24, where the Mayor and the GVMC Commissioner reviewed the encroachment status and instructed officials to take immediate and firm action.
Led by Chief City Planner A. Prabhakar Rao, the Town Planning teams, with support from zonal officials, ward secretariats, and local police, cleared encroachments in areas including Sangivalasa, Prashanthi Nagar, Kommadi, East Point Colony, H.B. Colony Layout, Nakkavanipalem, Marripalem, Lankelapalem, Shivaji Nagar, Godavari Township, and Narava. 'In a single day, we successfully freed 15 open spaces from encroachments,' said Mr. Prabhakar Rao, adding that the drive will continue in the coming days.
Officials said the mission is aimed at safeguarding green zones and ensuring they are preserved for public use and ecological balance.
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Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Operation LUNGS to safeguard open spaces from getting encroached
Visakhapatnam: As part of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation's (GVMC) action plan to place a check on encroachments, operation Life to Urban Green Spaces (LUNGS) gets initiated in the city. Several stretches of open spaces that fall under the GVMC limits have been encroached upon. In some areas, political leaders' encroached reserved open spaces and constructed commercial structures. As a result, locals in many colonies are facing difficulties. Earlier, a number of colony welfare associations have brought the issue to the attention of the GVMC authorities through various representations. Following detailed discussions with the concerned officials, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg and City Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao decided to get the city rid of such encroachments. As part of the exercise, the encroached structures were identified zone-wise. In the first phase, 15 reserved open spaces across the city which were illegally occupied in various approved layouts were taken into account. The Commissioner instructed GVMC Chief City Planner A Prabhakar Rao to take action at the earliest in this regard. Further, the Mayor informed that a review meeting was held recently at the GVMC head office along with the Commissioner to assess the status of open spaces across all zones. During the meeting, it was observed that open spaces in several layouts were encroached. Following the instructions of the Mayor and GVMC Commissioner, town planning department officials, led by Chief City Planner A Prabhakar Rao, launched a focused initiative under the banner of operation LUNGS. Encroachments at Sangivalasa, Prashanthi Nagar, Teachers Layout, DRK Raju Township layout, Madhurawada, ASR Nagar, East Point Colony, HB Colony, Nakkavanipalem layout, Marripalem layout, Lankelapalem, Shivaji Nagar and Godavari Township were identified. The exercise of demolishing is in various stages in several colonies. Talking about LUNGS, the Chief City Planner informed that they have already identified encroachments in some other open spaces in the city, while there are some court litigations which need to be cleared. The town planning officials, along with special teams, zonal commissioners, assistant city planners, department staff, and ward secretariat teams form part of the operation. The removal of encroachments is being executed with the support of police.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Vizag cops flag FOB crisis at city junctions
1 2 Visakhapatnam: Vizag city police have raised serious concerns over the lack of pedestrian infrastructure at major traffic junctions, warning that the absence of foot-over bridges (FOBs) and subways is endangering commuters —particularly the elderly and school children. Officials cautioned that without urgent intervention, the city could face severe chaos in the coming years. City police chief Dr Shanka Brata Bagchi said that Vizag city's traffic volume has been increasing for the past few years but the civic bodies have failed to introduce amenities such as foot-over bridges (FOBs), and subways that would allow pedestrians to cross the roads safely and conveniently. Interacting with the newsmen, Shanka Brata Bagchi said they have observed that the pedestrians are forced to cross the busy junctions such as Hanumanthuwaka Junction, Venkojipalem, Isukathota, Maddilapalem, and few other junctions in the city, putting their lives at risk due to absence of FOBs and subways. The civic bodies with the support of the other departments need to address the issue to avoid road crashes in view of pedestrian safety, he opined. As per the road transport authority, Vizag city has over 13 lakh vehicles, including around nine lakh two-wheelers. On average, at least 50,000 new vehicles (cars, two-wheelers, and others) have been added on the roads in a year in Vizag city. However, Vizagites lack proper footpaths, FOBs and subways to cross the major junctions in the city. In fact, even the existing footpaths in parts of the city are in poor shape Many students in parts of the city brave the traffic to cross roads regularly in the absence of FOBs and subways. Though the social activists and police have been appealing the GVMC, NHAI and few other departments to install FOBs at some major junctions in the city, no acton has been taken yet. "We will again pitch for pedestrian-friendly-infrastructure in Vizag city in the coming days as the neglect of pedestrian safety will lead to pedestrian fatalities," said Bagchi.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Operation Lungs: GVMC clears 15 encroachments on open spaces
Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) cleared encroachments on 15 reserved open spaces across Visakhapatnam, as part of its ongoing initiative, 'Operation Lungs' (life to urban green spaces). The town planning department carried out the drive with the support of local police, targeting illegally occupied open areas within designated layouts. The encroachment clearance was undertaken in several key locations of Vizag city: in zone-II at Sangivalasa; in zone-II at Prashanthi Nagar, Teachers Layout, DRK Raju Township Layout, Kommadi, the area behind Global School in Kotha Palem, Madhurawada, and ASR Nagar; in zone-III at East Point Colony, HB Colony Layout, and Nakkavani Palem Layout; in zone-V at Marripalem Layout; and in zone-VI at Lankelapalem, Shivaji Nagar Layout, and Godavari Township (Narava). These areas were identified as being encroached upon and were restored as part of the drive. GVCM mayor P Srinivasa Rao said that the operation followed a high-level review meeting held on 24th July at the GVMC office, where he and commissioner Ketan Garg reviewed the status of open spaces across all city zones. Observing the increasing encroachment on green and reserved spaces, we issued directives to the town planning department to take immediate action to safeguard these public assets, Rao added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo In line with these instructions, a special task force was formed to launch 'Operation Lungs,' with the objective of identifying and reclaiming open spaces for urban greenery and public use. GVMC chief city planner Prabhakar Rao said that the respective zonal commissioners, assistant planning officers, town planning staff, and secretariat personnel actively participated in the operation, ensuring its successful execution.
