1,057 encroachments removed in three days as Operation LUNGS resumes in Vizag

After a brief lull, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC)’ has intensified its anti-encroachment drive, Operation Life to Urban Green Spaces (LUNGS) 2.0, giving street vendors the jitters.

The civic authorities resumed the drive, which was stopped after Dasara, on December 14. In the past three days, 1,057 encroachments have been removed across all the zones of the municipal corporation, according to the Town Planning wing of GVMC.

Chief City Planner (CCP) A. Prabhakar Rao said that Operation LUNGS 2.0 aims to ensure safe pedestrian movement on footpaths and unobstructed vehicular traffic on roads and at junctions, thereby facilitating safe transportation.

This operation also intends to protect the vacant and government lands in the city from encroachments.

“A majority of complaints received through Public Grievances Redressal System (PGRS) pertain to encroachments on roads and footpaths, as well as roadside parking of vehicles, which obstruct traffic and frequently lead to congestion. After identifying encroachments in all the zones, they are being removed,” he said.

The move has created a panic among the street vendors across the city as it comes just ahead the holiday season.

“My shop was removed during the first phase of Operation Lungs, and I incurred heavy losses. I somehow managed to set up a small temporary stall. Now that the drive resumed, I am scared that this temporary shop will also be removed,” said K. Lakshmi, a street vendor from Seethammadhara.

A. Nagaraju, a vendor of MVP Colony said that the vendors do a good business during the Christmas, New Year and Sankranti seasons. “If our stalls are taken away again, it will be very difficult for us to survive,” he said.

In October this year, thousands of encroachments were removed along the footpaths and road sides across the city. Even the popular night food bazaar on Old Jail Road was shut down, affecting thousands of families that depended on the businesses there. The Operation LUNGS has drawn flak from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Left parties.

CPI(M) leader & Corporator of Ward 78, B. Ganga Rao criticised the GVMC for resuming the drive, stating that it would severely affect the livelihoods of workers.