Sanitation workers of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) clear heaps of waste and debris left behind after the annual Giri Pradakshina at Simhachalam in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: V RAJU
The sanitation staff of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) played a crucial role in restoring normalcy after the annual Giri Pradakshina by clearing the massive quantity of waste generated by devotees on a war footing and ensuring the city remained clean.The GVMC deployed around 3,100 sanitation workers, who worked round-the-clock in seven shifts from July 27 to manage the extensive clean-up operation.With nearly six lakh devotees participating in the pilgrimage, large volumes of waste, including leftover food, paper plates, plastic water bottles and other litter, were discarded along the 32-km trek route.Stretches such as Adavivaram–Hanumanthawaka, MVP Colony, HB Colony Road–Seethammadhara and several other areas were strewn with garbage, creating unhygienic conditions.Sanitation workers continued their efforts throughout Tuesday, and launched an intensive clean-up drive as the flow of devotees gradually reduced. CLAP vehicles made repeated trips to collect the accumulated waste, while sanitation staff manually cleared debris from roadsides and public spaces.By Wednesday morning, most of the major roads had been cleaned and restored, allowing office-goers, schoolchildren and commuters to travel without inconvenience.The swift and well-coordinated response by the GVMC sanitation teams drew appreciation for successfully restoring cleanliness across the city within a short span. Published - July 29, 2026 08:20 pm IST
