Foundation Laid for ₹40-Crore Slum Redevelopment Project at Velampeta
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for a ₹40-crore slum redevelopment project at Velampeta near Lakshmi Nagar in One Town.
Under the project, 177 families will be allotted flats of about 410 sq. ft each in multi-storey blocks, to be constructed on the land where their houses now stand. Each flat is valued at about ₹20 lakh.
Mr. Narayana was accompanied by Visakhapatnam South MLA Ch. Vamsikrishna Srinivas, District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore, and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg.
Mr. Narayana said the project was taken up after he observed the hardships faced by residents living in cramped houses, including families with children and elderly members. He noted that some houses measured only six to eight square feet, causing severe difficulties, particularly during the rainy season.
He said that when he brought the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister, it was immediately taken up and placed before the Cabinet. The Municipal Administration Department and other officials discussed and approved the project in record time.
The houses will be constructed using shear-wall technology, similar to that adopted for TIDCO housing. The technology uses concrete walls throughout the structure, making the buildings stronger and more durable, though the construction cost is higher.
The contractors had initially sought 18 months to complete the project, but he had insisted on a shorter timeline. “I asked them to complete it within six months. Finally, we fixed a deadline of nine months,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister is expected to inaugurate the completed project by the end of July next year.
The residents have signed promissory notes before vacating the site, and each family has received ₹18,000 towards rent at ₹3,000 per month for the six-month construction period.
Mr. Narayana said the Velampeta project would be the first of its kind in the State and that the government would soon take up similar slum redevelopment projects elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh. He thanked the District Collector, the GVMC Commissioner, the Municipal Administration Secretary, and other officials for bringing the project to the foundation-laying stage.
Recalling his earlier tenure as Municipal Administration Minister from 2014 to 2019, Mr. Narayana said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had stressed the need to provide every family with a decent house. The government had sanctioned seven lakh houses between 2014 and 2019, he said, but the number was reduced to 2.61 lakh during the YSRCP government. After returning to power, the NDA government revived the TIDCO housing programme, he added.
‘It Feels Like a Dream’
For Lakshmi, who has lived in Velampeta for nearly four decades, the project means more than a new house. “We have struggled a lot here. During the rains, water enters our house. It feels like a dream. Now, my grandchildren will be able to live peacefully,” she said.
Ramesh, who has lived in the area for about 30 years, said, “We have heard assurances about housing many times, especially during elections, but nothing materialised and we had lost hope. For the first time, we are seeing things move forward. We are really excited about our children’s future. My two children will have a good house.”