Besides approving a budget of Rs.360 crore for the year 2012-13, the board meeting of the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) here on Tuesday decided to take up a housing project for economically weaker sections at Gandigundam, construct two stadia in the city and one stadium each at Tuni, Srikakulam and Garividi.
Briefing media after the board meeting, Vice-Chairman Kona Sasidhar said the agenda comprising 70 items was discussed and about 50 of them were approved. The VUDA would open regional offices in each district headed by an executive engineer and assistant planning officer so that the district Collectors could interact with them regularly.
VUDA Chairman and Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration, B. Sam Bob presided. Besides the V-C, Collectors of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam — Lav Agarwal, M. Veerabrahmaiah and G. Venkatram Reddy —, Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu, and Director of Town and Country Planning B. Purushottam Reddy took part.
The housing project near Anandapuram would take up independent houses in 85 sq yards of site costing Rs.6 lakh to Rs.8 lakh. Project details would be finalised depending upon a demand survey to be taken up.
A separate allocation of Rs.9.44 crore has been made as SC/ST/disabled welfare component. As a part of it, disabled rehabilitation centres costing Rs.25 lakh each would be built in districts and the Training-cum-Production Centre (TCPC) at Bakkannapalem in Visakhapatnam would be renovated.
Vizianagaram bypass
While the proposal for developing seven master plan roads at a cost of Rs.44 crore was approved, the Vizianagaram bypass road would be laid spending Rs.9.7 crore. Other roads to be taken up are: approach road for Srikakulam RIMS, widening of Chinna Bazar (Srikakulam), Amadalavalasa and Rajam roads. Mr. Sasidhar said to strike equilibrium in development other districts would be given importance in VUDA development work.
One of the indoor stadiums in the city would come up at Pendurthy. The stadium at Srikakulam would be demolished and a new one constructed. An outdoor stadium would be constructed at Garividi and indoor one for Tuni.
Mr. Sasidhar said in principal approval was given for VUDA's proposals to develop a convention centre, two IT towers next to its office and going in for solar power would be pursued. The VUDA was also ready to maintain Erramattidibbalu, a unique geological formation near Bhimili, with the approval of Revenue and Tourism Departments. The proposal to set up Mahabodhi Centre would be sent to the State Government. To overcome staff paucity they would be brought on deputation from the other departments.
On mobilising the budget, he said Rs.31 crore was proposed to be realised from sale of plots, Rs.60 crore from new schemes, Rs.7 crore from development charges, Rs.59 crore from shops, offices etc., and Rs.30 crore from BPS/LRS and the remaining would be from surplus funds.
