Roads at Gandhi Nagar in Berhampur require immediate repair. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 22: Life in Gandhi Nagar, a posh area that houses nearly 1,600 families, has become miserable because of the absence of amenities.

People living between the fifth and 13th lanes do not have proper roads, drainage systems or drinking water supply.

“Gandhi Nagar came up in 1965 following an initiative by the late T.R.K. Rao, a retired engineer and former principal of Engineering School, Berhampur. The area between the first and fourth lane and the other settlements were established later,” said Nimai Charan Tripathy, a senior advocate.

Although the colony has spread, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation and Berhampur Development Authority are not providing residents proper infrastructure.

“Residents in the eastern part of Gandhi Nagar are the worst sufferers. They have to enter Bijipur and reach the main road through the Bijipur tank embankment road behind the Congress office,” Tripathy said.

Tripathy said establishment of a police station, primary health care centre, park, shopping complex and electrical sub-station in Gandhi Nagar were a must.

President of the Gandhi Nagar Development Committee Bhagaban Sahu said: “The layout plan has not been implemented since 1984. Gandhi Nagar should be made a separate ward. Councillors from other wards have no interest in the area.”

Rabi Patnaik, a resident, said: “We are using an 8-feet wide kutchha road on a private land owned by Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri, with their permission for the last few years in the absence of a proper corporation road.”

“We are collecting donations from residents in the area to meet the expenses for construction and regular maintenance,” said a resident.

“Though we had approached the corporation and development authorities several times to buy the land from Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri, their response was negative. If there is no space to construct a public road, how could the authority approve the house plan and collect house tax,” said another resident.