Title - Box culvert proposal remains on paper

Railways yet to respond to VMC plea to consider reducing the deposit amount-----------------
It’s more than four years now and the Railways is yet to respond to the VMC proposal to construct a box culvert to provide a lasting solution to the drainage problem in the One Town area.The Railways has asked the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation to deposit Rs. 10.79 crore to take up the box culvert works.The VMC has initially put the estimated cost at Rs. 4 crore. But, the Railways has asked the corporation to pay Rs. 10.79 crore, saying it has to shift the signal poles, maintain the culvert for next 10 years, and construct the culvert.The VMC officials, in a recent letter, asked the Railways to reconsider the estimate, as the culvert will be useful to carry the sewer and sullage generated from the railway colony and railway station. The Railways has not responded till date, sources say.

In fact, the Railways has been dilly-dallying ever since the project was conceived after the 2009 incident.

Pune-based Ghani Constructions Limited expressed its interest in constructing the box culvert.

When the VMC sought permission, the Railways offered to take up the project if requisite amount was deposited with it.

The VMC also expressed its willingness to deposit the amount as the Railways generally takes up construction of bridges, flyovers, road overbridges passing through its property.

Thereafter, there has been no progress and the VMC officials are waiting for a positive response on the deposit amount.

‘Heavy load’

The existing drainage system in the One Town was designed in 1930.

The new outfall drain is mooted in view of “heavy load” on the Nizam Gate and Gandhi Hill outfall drains, which were constructed during the British rule.

These outfall drains are not capable of flushing out the storm water swiftly.

These drains were choked in 2009 leading to inundation of the One Town area.