Vijayawada: The long-standing demand of residents living on the outskirts of Vijayawada to merge their areas into the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has once again gathered strong momentum. The issue resurfaced following recent appeals by several MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, urging the govt to expand city limits and improve civic infrastructure in the adjoining regions.Areas such as Gollapudi, Prasadampadu, Enikepadu, Nidamanur, and Ramavarappadu, which fall under Mylavaram and Gannavaram constituencies, continue to function under panchayat administration despite rapid urbanisation. Residents complain that the civic amenities in these regions are inadequate, with poor sanitation, bad roads, and an unreliable drinking water supply. In several colonies, borewell water contains high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), making it unfit for consumption. Locals have therefore renewed their plea for inclusion in the VMC to ensure better services and governance.Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkat Rao raised the issue in the Assembly, stressing that nearly 18 villages in his constituency are contiguous with the Vijayawada city boundary. He said residents are facing severe difficulties due to the absence of proper roads, drainage, and drinking water, and urged the govt to merge Vijayawada Rural mandal into the corporation immediately.Echoing similar concerns, Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad pointed out that the area between Gollapudi and Ibrahimpatnam holds immense potential for urban expansion and economic development. He called for the formation of Greater Vijayawada, emphasising that inclusion would boost infrastructure, real estate, and investment opportunities.Meanwhile, officials indicated that the proposal might be taken up as part of the state’s upcoming administrative reorganisation. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) also expressed optimism, stating that the govt, under chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, is “positive about the Greater Vijayawada proposal” and a decision is expected soon after reorganisation of districts.
