Visakha Valley Road in bad condition

Visakhapatnam: One of the most preferred ways to avoid the city traffic and reach the Beach Road from the National Highway is through Visakha Valley road. But its deplorable condition is getting worse by the day.  The potholes prove to be a nightmare for motorists. The 1.6 km-long Visakha Valley road pa-sses through the reserved forest area close to the Indira Gandhi Zoo-logical Park. The forest department is not allo-wing the Vuda to widen the road.

Vuda officials said they have plans to develop the Visakha Valley road at an estimated cost of Rs 6.4 crore besides other roads like Pedamushidiwada Junction Road, Lankelapalem at Nakkavanipalem, Rushikonda satellite layout-Beach Road and Duvvada railway station to Kurmanna-palem road to ensure a better road network.

The Vuda authorities still await permission from the forest department.  Vuda vice-chairman P. Basanth Kumar said the development of the road is necessary but the forest clearance is yet to be obtained. Visakhapatnam divisional forest officer Alan Chong Teron said the permission would be granted as it is a very small stretch. “But there is some process required to be followed upon," he said. "The road is very narrow. Dropping and picking up my kids from Visakha Valley School has proved to be difficult everyday, said a resident.