Even as the State government has set its sights on achieving ‘Arogya Andhra Pradesh’, Vijayawada, the second biggest city in the State, is yet to address the issue of shrinking open spaces.
This was brought to the fore during the silent protests in November, when members of the Andhra Loyola College Walkers’ Association, most of whom are senior citizens, called out the management for being unjust in keeping the premises closed to the public.
The college’s ground has been a go-to walking place for many people living in the nearby colonies for decades. Before the pandemic, more than 700 people used to come here for their morning walk, the members said.
When the pandemic broke out, many institutions, where walking was permitted, closed their gates to the public. While most of them reopened gradually as the pandemic threat ended, Andhra Loyola College’s grounds remained closed.
During this time, the association members, all scattered, started looking for other options to continue their regimen. However, they waited for the ALC to open the gates.
For people like Krishna Rao and Ravi Ramesh, walking companions, coming here was more than just a morning exercise. “We have been walking together for decades and formed an emotional bond with fellow walkers. It is a means of socialising for many of us,” says Mr. Krishna Rao, who has been coming to the college since 1985.
“Moreover, walking on cement roads left me with knee pain, while the parks in our colonies are too small to walk,” adds Mr. Krishna Rao, a resident of NTR Colony.
While there are four major playgrounds, only Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) stadium is in the centre of the city. Therefore, many prefer going to the nearest college and school grounds for walking.
Gradually, as some of them began using the grounds, the college management, on January 16, issued a statement warning trespassers of legal action. “The grounds are a private property and entry into the premises without permission would be dealt with severely,” it said, adding that the decision was taken in the interests of the students and teachers. The management did not respond to this reporter when a clarification was sought on the issue.
Despite the statement, a few people have resumed walking here. However, the number remains low.
“We have informed the District Collector, the Police Commissioner, the Member of Parliament and other officials about the issue and sought their help. They are with us. Besides, it is not fair on their part to antagonise the neighbourhood,” said Mr. Ravi Ramesh, one of the association members and a cycling enthusiast.
One question that remains on the walkers’ minds is why did they have to knock on the doors of officials for a simple request such as this.
“We had to dissolve our 20-year-old association, too, at the behest of the management. Our walking here was never a bone of contention between the college and us. Most of us come at 5 a.m. and leave by 7.30 a.m., much before the classes start. We do not know what went wrong,” Mr. Krishna Rao says.
The members also chipped in ₹3 lakh to ₹4 lakh every year for the upkeep of the grounds and for setting up of other infrastructure. From the funds belonging to the association of more than 3,000 members, they set up a dais, a few benches and other amenities.
Now, while the college management has not responded to the walkers yet, the latter are reaching out to Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development P. Narayana for help. “It is our right, after all,” says Mr. Ramesh.
