Vijayawada city was limping back to normalcy on Tuesday as most shops, educational institutions and government and private offices reopened after three days of closure.

Most commercial establishments on Bandar road, Besant road, Karl Marx (Elur) road and other parts of the city remained opened as the agitation shifted to Varadhi and Prakasam barrage centers.

The Joint Action Committee leaders on Monday announced that a dharna would be staged for one hour at Varadhi and Prakasam barrage from 11 am to 12 noon.
Employees working in state and Central government departments attended the duties as usual on Tuesday.

The impact of the agitation was less on Tuesday compared to Monday when Vijayawada MP Rajagopal was arrested in Hyderabad.

The Congress activists gathered at the Swarajya maidan where the Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal began hunger strike in support of united Andhra. Telugu Desam (TD) leaders too gathered near the Swarajya Maidan where the MLAs Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Chinnam Ramakotaiah and others continuing indefinite fast for united Andhra for the third day on Tuesday.

The two main parties have two separate camps on MG Road.

Meanwhile, agitation for united Andhra is not picking up in the city as per the expectations of the Congress and the Telugu Desam leaders.

Citizens are divided on the supporting the agitation for united Andhra. Most citizens are of the opinion that Vijayawada city was neglected by successive governments due to continuation of united Andhra.

Had the separate Andhra been created long ago, the city would have been developed in all spheres like Hyderabad, they felt.

A trader in the Kaleswarrao market said, “Our rulers spent crores of rupees for the development of Hyderabad and neglected our cities like Vijayawada and Guntur.”

But others are supporting the integrated Andhra. They are worried that water flow to Krishna and Godavari rivers would be affected with the bifurcation of the state since the two main rivers enter Telangana region first and later flows into Andhra region.

Considering all these factors, majority people in the city are silently watching the developments on the televisions and not taking to the streets.