GVMC clears cellar and stilt-floor encroachments
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Monday cleared seven encroachments from cellar and stilt-floor areas in different parts of the city as part of its ongoing “Operation Lungs 3.0” enforcement drive.
In a press release, Chief City Planner A. Prabhakar Rao said the action was taken under the directions of GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg to ensure that cellar and stilt floors in commercial complexes and apartment buildings are used strictly for vehicle parking. The corporation observed that misuse of these spaces has led to indiscriminate roadside parking, contributing to traffic congestion and inconvenience to the public.
Town Planning officials, assisted by police personnel, carried out the drive across four zones. In the South Zone, a commercial shop operating in a cellar and stilt-floor area in Ward 31 (Dabagardens) was removed. In the East Zone, an encroachment in Ward 17 (MVP Colony, Sector I) was cleared.
In the West Zone, officials removed two vegetable shops in Ward 90 (Gavara Veedhi), dismantled closed grills in Ward 91 near Buchirajupalem Main Road, and cleared two violations in Ward 66 on Gajuwaka Main Road. These included a temporary tailoring shop at Lucky Shopping Mall and unauthorised shutters and walls at GBR Shopping Mall.
Officials said inspections and removals would continue under Operation Lungs 3.0. Shop owners and occupants using cellar or stilt-floor areas for commercial purposes have been advised to vacate the spaces voluntarily.
Assistant Planning Officers, Town Planning staff, secretariat personnel, and police staff participated in the drive.