Vijayawada's Urban Planning Crisis: Three Villages Highlight Systemic Failures
The villages of Ramavarappadu, Prasadampadu, and Enikepadu, which became integral parts of Vijayawada city long ago, now stand as stark examples of how urban planning should not be executed. Despite their development as city extensions, administration remained under local panchayats, resulting in completely unplanned growth with severe consequences for residents.
Critical Land Shortage for Essential Services
The most alarming outcome of this chaotic development is that not even five cents of land is available for establishing a medical center in any of these three villages. Together covering 2,612 acres, proper urban planning should have reserved at least 200 acres for community use including hospitals, parks, and public facilities. Instead, the panchayat system allowed uncontrolled urbanization that left no space for common amenities.
Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkat Rao revealed he could not find even five cents of land to establish a basic clinic. He further noted that Ramavarappadu requires two 33Kv electrical substations but space exists for only one, despite necessary sanctions being in place. "It is astonishing to see that no land is available in three entire villages," Rao stated. "Even if development was unplanned, the panchayat should have retained some land for public use. No one knows what happened to government land in these areas."
Municipal Merger Could Have Prevented Crisis
Rao argued that these villages should have been merged into the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) long ago. Under municipal planning rules, land would have been systematically reserved for public use. Instead, unauthorized development under sarpanches left no space for government facilities, creating the current crisis.
The planning failure extends beyond land allocation. These villages lack tapped drinking water despite being situated on the banks of the Krishna River. VMC supplies water only up to Currency Nagar, while the stretch to Nidamanuru — considered part of Vijayawada — has no drinking water facilities whatsoever.
Water Crisis and Alleged Financial Misconduct
The groundwater situation is equally dire, with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels reaching as high as 3,000 against the standard 250, making it completely non-potable. This creates a paradoxical situation where villages on a major riverbank cannot access clean drinking water.
Rao further alleged serious misappropriation of panchayat funds, with ₹4.7 crore reportedly missing from Ramavarappadu alone. "I sought an enquiry into common lands and misappropriation of funds, but there has been no action till today," he revealed, highlighting systemic governance failures.
Broader Implications for Urban Development
This case study reveals critical flaws in India's urban expansion approach:
- Administrative fragmentation between panchayat and municipal systems
- Failure to reserve land for essential public services during urbanization
- Lack of coordinated planning for water infrastructure despite natural advantages
- Inadequate oversight of local governance and fund utilization
The situation in these three Vijayawada villages serves as a cautionary tale for other rapidly urbanizing areas across India, demonstrating what happens when growth outpaces planning and governance structures fail to adapt to changing urban realities.
