Residents in Visakhapatnam’s Madhurawada flag poor roads, drains, ahead of GVMC polls

Residents of Visakhapatnam's Madhurawada ward have expressed concerns over the poor state of roads, drains, and garbage collection ahead of the upcoming Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections. In Srinivasa Nagar, residents allege that roads dug up by the Electricity Department remain uncompleted due to the presence of rubble from crushed gravel. This gravel, unloaded in August for road-laying, continues to be left in heaps beside a rutted, puddle-strewn road.

Similarly, in Marikavalasa, residents have been demanding proper roads for over four decades, yet the issue remains unresolved. K. Archana, a resident, emphasized that a motorable road is a fundamental public amenity rather than an extra civic service, and its persistent neglect is unacceptable. The lack of proper roads makes movement difficult and unsafe during the rainy season, affecting access to essential services like workplaces, schools, and medical care.

Moreover, garbage collection and drain maintenance have also been major concerns. Despite GVMC's announcement of segregation rules, residents find dry and wet waste being mixed together in GVMC vehicles. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, require four-stream segregation at the source, including wet, dry, sanitary, and special care waste.

The absence of a drain in some streets leads to water stagnation, foul odors, and the breeding of mosquitoes, which can spread diseases like dengue and malaria during and after the monsoon season.