Andhra Pradesh Government Approves Housing Development for 177 Families in Visakhapatnam Slum
The Andhra Pradesh government has made a significant decision to develop houses for 177 families residing in the Velampeta slum area of Visakhapatnam. This crucial resolution was reached during a high-level meeting chaired by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana. The meeting, held in Amaravati, included key officials from the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) area, such as GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, VMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Tej Bharath, and other senior administrators.
Addressing Decades of Hardship
Minister Narayana had previously visited the Velampeta Lakshmi Nagar slum in the Vizag South constituency in December, accompanied by local representatives and officials. During this visit, residents—primarily daily wage laborers—informed the minister that they have been living in the area for nearly 50 years. They urgently requested immediate steps for housing allotments, highlighting severe hardships faced during monsoon seasons. The residents appealed not only for the construction of houses for all families but also for the provision of basic amenities to improve their living conditions.
Minister Narayana personally visited several residences and observed the challenging living conditions, describing it as painful to see families occupying extremely small spaces. He assured the community that the Velampeta slum area would be taken up as a special project and developed comprehensively to address these long-standing issues.
Financial Aspects and Broader Urban Planning
While the decision to develop the houses has been made, a final decision regarding the financial aspects of the housing construction is expected to be taken soon. This indicates that the government is moving forward with planning while ensuring budgetary considerations are properly addressed.
Meanwhile, the Amaravati meeting also covered broader urban development initiatives for the VMRDA area. Discussions included the preparation of a master plan, which proposes a total of 15 roads. Minister Narayana has instructed officials to prioritize and complete seven of these roads on a fast-track basis in the first phase, aiming to enhance connectivity and infrastructure.
Tourism Development and Regulatory Measures
In addition to housing and infrastructure, the meeting explored opportunities for tourism development in Visakhapatnam. Plans were discussed to create a tourism circuit by linking key attractions such as Kailasagiri, Kambalakonda, and the Zoo park. Minister Narayana advised the VMRDA commissioner to focus on further tourism development in coordination with officials from the tourism department, potentially boosting local economy and visitor engagement.
The minister also suggested launching public awareness campaigns to facilitate the regularisation of unauthorised buildings and layouts within the VMRDA limits. This initiative aims to bring structures into compliance with regulations, ensuring safer and more organized urban growth.
This comprehensive approach by the Andhra Pradesh government underscores a commitment to improving living standards, enhancing urban infrastructure, and promoting sustainable development in Visakhapatnam, with a particular focus on uplifting marginalized communities in slum areas.
