Durga Nagar: A rapidly developing colony

Visakhapatnam: When one traverses to Durga Nagar near Yendada in the city outskirts, it bears a testimony to how an area once wore a lush green colour has transformed into a happening urban space. Once covered by paddy fields and coconut and cashew trees, the area became an urban residential location with many high-rise apartments dotting the colony.

A sleepy village until 2000, the thatched huts gave way to the high-rise buildings that exist today. “It was a location primarily filled with farmlands. The two shops and one tiffin centre in the area were used to be closed at 6 pm. There was no power supply to many houses and only a few telephones were there until the 90s,” U. Chinna Rao, a senior resident of the colony, recounted the past. “With increased migrations from rural areas and the entry of apartment culture, the outlook of the colony has somewhat changed,” he added.

Given the rapid development of the city, many real-estate dealers bought pockets of lands in the area, building huge apartments. When asked how the apartment culture has changed the relations between the residents, P. Venkestwara Rao, explained, “Though the green patch has shrunk over the years, there are still many individual houses and a sense of community,” he added.

“Despite the rapid development of the colony, we still have to go kilometres to get access to basic amenities such as schools, hospitals, function halls and Rythu Bazaars or other markets. The proposed park in one of the corners of the street by the VUDA also has not materialised yet. The roadwork from highway to GITAM University was also going at a snail’s pace,” added Mr. Venkateswara Rao. Many residents of the colony also asked the officials to upgrade the school in the vicinity until 10th class.