The Forum for Better Society, Visakhapatnam, has called upon the Andhra Pradesh government to remove or relocate Vizag Square, a public space developed at the busy Siripuram Junction. According to the Forum, the structure has become a major source of civic inconvenience, traffic obstruction, and safety concerns.
Urban Planning Distortion
In a representation, the Forum stated that the structure has distorted urban planning and added to the burden on the city traffic police. Several citizens, traffic experts, and residents believe the structure has become detrimental to the city’s traffic management and public convenience. It occupies crucial road space in an already congested traffic corridor, resulting in severe peak-hour traffic snarls, lane indiscipline, long detours, and delays affecting ambulances and other emergency services.
Safety and Public Disorder
The Forum further noted that the structure has increasingly turned into a gathering point for unruly youth, bike racers, and reel-makers. It has also become a venue for midnight celebrations, public disorder, and repeated vandalism. The Forum requested the government to conduct an independent technical, legal, and traffic feasibility assessment of the project. It also urged an examination of the legality of road alterations and parking facilities extended to Dutt Island, which allegedly affect the master plan alignment.
Demands for Action
The Forum sought directions to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to relocate the structure to a more suitable non-obstructive location. It also demanded the restoration of the original traffic utility and road geometry of Siripuram Junction, fixing accountability for planning deviations, and ensuring that private commercial interests do not override public road rights in future urban planning decisions.
