Sat Nov 16 00:32:52 IST 2024: ## Dangerous Duvvada Road Demands Urgent Repair
**Visakhapatnam, November 16, 2024** – A 1.8km stretch of road connecting Duvvada railway station to the Vignan Institute of Information Technology (VIIT) is posing a significant safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists, according to residents and commuters. The road, riddled with potholes and craters, is particularly dangerous at night due to a lack of street lighting.
Heavy trucks and tippers using the road exacerbate the problem, kicking up dust and damaging vehicles. The combination of poor road conditions, the absence of streetlights, and overgrown bushes alongside the railway track creates a risky environment, especially for women and students of VIIT. During the rainy season, the potholes fill with water, creating muddy hazards.
Residents of nearby colonies and the Duvvada Railway Users Association (DRUA) have repeatedly petitioned officials at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the railway authorities for repairs, with limited success. While the railways have recently agreed to undertake the roadwork, according to an RTI reply, the residents remain concerned about the ongoing danger.
Commuters describe the road conditions as a “nightmare,” highlighting frequent vehicle damage and the risk to pedestrians from speeding trucks. Thousands of people, including students, staff, and residents of several colonies, rely on this road daily. One commuter, Katam SS Chandra Rao, a Visakhapatnam Steel Plant executive, described the perilous conditions caused by dust and mud. Another, K. Abhinav, a former VIIT student, stated the road has been neglected for years.
The DRUA is calling for a high-level gauge at the road’s entrance to restrict heavy vehicle access and improve safety. With 47 pairs of regular and special trains stopping at Duvvada daily, urgent action is needed to address this dangerous situation.
First Piper 