Dwarka Bus Station earns state award for sanitation management

Visakhapatnam: Maintaining cleanliness and sanitation at Dwarka Bus Station, which caters to more than one lakh passengers daily, has been a major challenge. However, through sustained efforts and effective sanitation management, the bus complex secured recognition as one of the best-maintained bus stations in Andhra Pradesh. Spread across nearly six acres, the Dwarka Bus Station witnesses a massive increase in passenger footfall during festivals, with around 1.5 lakh people using the facility to travel to various destinations. Officials informed that the station achieved this recognition following a special focus on sanitation and cleanliness over the past eight months.

Sharing details with The Hans India, Regional Manager and District Public Transport Officer (DPTO) B Appala Naidu mentioned that the coveted recognition resulted from a collective effort and shared responsibility. “Hence it cannot be attributed to any single individual; it’s teamwork. The achievement is made possible through the coordinated efforts of sanitation workers, supervisors, officers and other staff members, who worked collectively to maintain cleanliness and hygiene across the bus station,” he attributed.

Further, Appala Naidu stressed that cleanliness should not be confined to keeping public places and surroundings clean. “It should start at the individual-level. People should begin by maintaining personal hygiene while nurturing a healthy mind and home. They should take the same responsibility regarding neighbourhoods, streets, villages and workplaces,” he opined.

The DPTO called upon everyone to make cleanliness maintenance an integral part of their daily lives and sought collective contribution toward creating a healthier and cleaner society.

Simhachalam Devasthanam

Meanwhile, Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple bagged the prestigious state-level ‘Swachhandhra–Swarnandhra Award’.

The Devasthanam achieved the significant distinction in implementing effective sanitation and hygiene management practices. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu presented the award to the temple Executive Officer Jallepalli Venkata Rao at the recent Swachhandhra–Swarnandhra Awards ceremony hosted in Vijayawada. Also, the Simhachalam Devasthanam received special recognition at the district level. Assistant Executive Officer Pilla Srinivasa Rao and Deputy Executive Engineer (DE in-charge) Ramaraju received the district-level ‘Swachhandhra’ award from Visakhapatnam District Collector M Abhishikth Kishore for their effective coordination in supervising sanitation and engineering works.

Inspired by the Chief Minister’s ambitious ‘Swachhandhra–Swarnandhra’ initiative, EO Venkata Rao paid special attention to maintaining cleanliness across the temple premises and its surroundings. The EO coordinated with officials and staff of the engineering and sanitation departments to strengthen cleanliness measures at periodic intervals. The temple administration and staff have been working with dedication to ensure continuous sanitation monitoring and advanced waste-management practices to maintain a clean, pleasant environment on the Simhachalam hill. The EO said that the recognition is the outcome of collective efforts by the temple administration, officials and staff in maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene for devotees.

Visakhapatnam received 10 Swachh Andhra Awards 2026 in multiple categories. They included Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation in the Swachha Municipalities and Swachha Government Institutions category, Community Health Centre in Pendurthi, UPHC in Chinnamusidivada in the Swachha hospital category and Zilla Parishad High School in Chandrampalem in the Swachha Schools category.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasu Potnuru

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Potnuru Srinivasa Rao (Vasu Potnuru) is an experienced journalist specialised in politics, sports, crime, general topics and tribal stories. With 18 years of writing and reporting expertise, he contributes to The Hans India's editorial department as Principal Correspondent based in Visakhapatnam. Vasu Potnuru completed his Bachelor of Business Management. Earlier, he worked as a staff reporter in a leading Telugu vernacular. During free time, the journalist spends time listening to music, playing cricket and shuttle badminton. Vasu Potnuru, an accomplished writer, honed his expertise in various genres such as politics, crime, sports and general topics. He received an award from the HYBIZ Media Awards for the Best Rural Story in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Also, he bagged the Best Crime Reporter Award in Visakhapatnam. He serves in different unions of working journalists and contributes to service activities.

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