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Tuni’s municipal chairperson Narla Bhuvana Ratnaji is praised for hands-on scooter inspections, but residents say sanitation and parking issues persist despite her daily rounds
Every morning, Narla Bhuvana Ratnaji sets out on a scooter, often stopping to interact directly with sanitation workers. (News18 Telugu)
Tuni, one of the largest towns in Andhra Pradesh’s Marala district, is home to nearly 100 surrounding villages and a bustling municipality divided into 30 wards. At the helm is Narla Bhuvana Ratnaji, a municipal chairperson who has earned attention not only for her administrative role but also for her unusual approach to public service.
Unlike most civic chiefs, Bhuvana does not arrive in an official car. Every morning, she sets out on a scooter, often stopping to interact directly with sanitation workers before sunrise. By 4:30 am, when hundreds of municipal sweepers report for duty, she too is on the ground, supervising their work. Residents say it is rare to find a day when the chairperson herself is absent.
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Her style has earned her both admiration and skepticism. To supporters, she represents a hands-on leader who inspects problems ward by ward, refusing to sit comfortably in a municipal chamber. To critics, however, the daily scooty rides and inspections look more like political theatre, especially when civic problems continue to pile up in the busy town.
In conversations with News18, several residents complained that basic issues remain unresolved despite daily monitoring. Piles of garbage on streets and poor drainage have led to situations where, locals allege, one cannot move around certain roads without covering the nose. In addition, lack of parking space in the congested town centre allegedly created difficulties for those arriving by car.
Responding to these charges, Bhuvana said that the municipality is working within its jurisdiction and gradually resolving complaints. “Parking cannot be addressed unless the roads are widened. We are moving forward in that direction. My role is not about holding a high office but about reaching every ward daily to understand and solve people’s problems,” she said.
When taken by reporters to one area notorious for its stench, the chairperson acknowledged that the sanitation vehicle had not operated for two days, but assured residents that the issue had been fixed and would not recur.
Some Tuni residents hail Narla Bhuvana Ratnaji as a rare example of a woman leader who steps out of her office to work in the field. While, others argue that despite her scooter inspections and early-morning rounds, the core challenges of sanitation, parking, and civic infrastructure continue to linger.
- Location :
Andhra Pradesh, India, India
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