Vijayawada Municipal Corporation to Evict 258 Shop Owners

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has initiated the process to evict 258 shop owners operating at the prominent Lenin Centre. These traders have been notified that their commercial structures on the canal bund must be removed to facilitate urban development and maintenance projects. The move has triggered significant anxiety among local business owners, many of whom have operated in this central location for decades and now face the immediate loss of their primary source of income.

This administrative action follows a direct order from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which mandated the clearance of all encroachments on canal bunds across the city. The judiciary has emphasized the need to restore water bodies and ensure the structural integrity of canal embankments, which have been compromised by permanent and semi-permanent constructions. While the VMC has delayed previous attempts at removal, the recent legal pressure has forced the corporation to prioritize these clearances despite local political opposition.

Affected traders argue that the sudden eviction will destroy their customer base and leave hundreds of families without a livelihood. Local merchant associations are currently seeking a stay on the order or an alternative rehabilitation plan from the state government. However, city officials state that the clearance is essential for public safety and flood management. The VMC plans to deploy heavy machinery for the demolition drive once the notice period expires, marking a major shift in the city's approach to unauthorized urban commercial spaces.