Vijayawada city, which has faced significant neglect in infrastructure development over the past few years by successive governments, has once again received zero funds under the Centre's Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) scheme. Proposals for infrastructure works worth Rs 1,052 crore, including an underground drainage project valued at Rs 733 crore and a drinking water pipeline project worth Rs 319 crore, failed to secure the Centre's approval.
Centre Sanctions Funds for Other Cities
In contrast, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 497.71 crore under the UCF scheme for the development of various civic infrastructure projects in Visakhapatnam and Mangalagiri-Tadepalli municipal corporations in Andhra Pradesh. The state government had submitted proposals worth Rs 1,990.83 crore for infrastructure works from Visakhapatnam and MTMC corporations seeking central funds.
VMC Official Expresses Hope
"Although Vijayawada did not receive any UCF funds under the first tranche of the scheme, we are hopeful that the Centre will sanction the requisite funds for both the underground drainage and drinking water pipeline projects in Vijayawada city in the second tranche," clarified VMC in-charge chief engineer P Satya Kumari. She added that the proposals sent by VMC are under active consideration with the Centre.
Satya Kumari confirmed that the state government forwarded the proposals for Vijayawada city along with those for Visakhapatnam and Mangalagiri-Tadepalli civic bodies. However, the proposals from GVMC and MTMC were prioritized in the first tranche. The official stated that the civic body has prepared comprehensive Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) worth Rs 4,800 crore for providing storm water drains, drinking water pipelines, underground drainage, and various other civic amenities to citizens in the city.
Future Plans
The official added that the proposed projects aim to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply, improve sanitation standards, and modernize the city's underground drainage network to cater to future population growth.
