Minister for Water Resources D. Umamaheswara Rao on Saturday said that apart from being decked up with greenery the city canals would also pave the way for water transport services in the future.
The Minister along with MP K. Srinivas, Collector B. Lakshmikantham, Mayor Koneru Sridhar, Municipal Commissioner J. Nivas and others laid the foundation stone for the works related to development of greenery on the six-kilometre stretch of the bunds (both sides) of the Bandar canal from PNBS to the Skew Bridge.
Mr. Rao said the canal beautification was funded by the Tourism department following the orders of the Chief Minister who had visited the city and suggested various development plans.
“The city’s three canals will be beautified and later interlinked. The Chief Minister has also suggested transportation services in the canals and it will be implemented,” he said.
Green city
Vijayawada would be made into a green city and completion of the Kanaka Durga flyover would make city free from traffic jams.
Mayor Koneru Sridhar said that the development works would not disturb the people residing near the canal.
The Collector said the civic body, Tourism department and the Amaravati Development Corporation would jointly develop 18 kilometres of canal bunds of Eluru, Ryves and Bandar canals. In the first phase, Bandar canal work would be taken up, he said.
The cost of the work, including levelling and sloping of the bunds, growing grass and plants was about ₹2 crore, he added.