TLN Staff
Kanakadurga flyover in Vijayawada is mired in controversy as both TDP and YSRCP claim credit for its completion. The prestigious project has become as much a subject of rows even after it is completed just as it was before it started.
Vijayawada had witnessed agitation a decade ago for construction of flyover to overcome traffic bottleneck at Kanakadurga temple. The then Congress government made it clear that 2.5 km flyover adjoining Indrakeeladri hillock was not possible as there would be little room for manoeuvre because of River Krishna on one side and the hill on the other. However, Congress lost power in 2014 elections giving way to BJP at the Centre and TDP in the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. As the BJP and TDP were in alliance at the Centre as well as in the state, TDP senior leader in Vijayawada and now MLC Budda Venkanna lobbied hard for the flyover at Durga temple.
Earlier, Venkanna also sat on an indefinite fast for the project and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who was then in opposition, visited the venue and promised to sanction the project after coming to power. He kept his promise and sent the proposal to the Centre. MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) pursued the issue and played a key role in obtaining permission for both Kanakadurga and Benz Circle flyovers from the then Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari.
The estimations were completed and works started in earnest. Soma Company, which landed the Kanakadurga flyover contract, promised to complete the project in 18 months so that it could be thrown open to public by 2016 Krishna Pushkaralu. But works did not go at the pace expected and costs went out of hand owing to jagged topography. After a prolonged duration of 60 months, the flyover has finally been completed and is set to be inaugurated soon.
However, just at this juncture, a political slugfest broke out as political parties began competing to claim credit for the project. Endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas during his inspection of the project claimed that Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy got the flyover completed in just 14 months which could not be done by Chandrababu Naidu during his five-year tenure.
This claim for credit by the ruling party infuriated the TDP circles, prompting Budda Venkanna to immediately hold a press meet and narrate his struggles to realize the project. He also highlighted the role of MP Kesineni Nani in getting the sanction and funds for the project. But the YSRCP leaders are finding it tough to acknowledge this and have been carrying out a campaign in social media attributing the completion of flyover to Jagan’s efforts. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to throw open the flyover to public very soon.
Another controversy is brewing over the project. While TDP has been demanding that the flyover be named as ‘Kanakadurga Flyover’, YSRCP is said to be planning to name it after YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Whatever may be the controversies spawned by the project, it would provide major relief for the residents of Vijayawada by easing a major traffic block.