EPC, a colony of elites in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: East Point Colony, one of the upmarket localities of this city, has been home to a long list of academicians, industrialists and employees of various state and Union government organisations.

It has wide, quiet, tree-lined roads, spacious houses and connectivity to the city, and is home to about 3,000 families, “a mix of old-timers and  the younger generation, with only a few first-generation residents remaining,” said
Singaraju Venkata Raja, a resident and a speed skating coach.

The colony, which is located between China Waltair, Rani Chandramani Devi Hospital,  Lawson's Bay Colony and the Railway Guest House, is also where the East Shirdi Sai Baba  temple is located and which devotees visit in droves, especially during festivals when many programmes are held there.

Mr Venkata Raja recalled how when they were once digging a duct to channelise stagnant  rainwater, a Shri Vinayaka idol was unearthed. “It was then decided to construct a Ganesh  temple on that spot, and over time, sanctums for other deities were also built in the two-storied structure, including Sri Rama, Shiva, Subrahmanya Swamy, Ayyappa and others.

The colony is well equipped with civic amenities, though Mr Raja pointed out that  there was no playground for children. “We request the GVMC authorities to develop the   park in the locality. We also have a problem of stray cattle, whose owners leave them free to graze in the open spaces,” he added, which he felt ought to be checked.