With a slew of measures having been brought to a definite stage, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) plans to go in for ISO certification.
Detailing a host of measures initiated during the year and future plans, VUDA Vice-Chairman Kona Sasidhar said it would be for the first time in the State a UDA would go in for ISO certification.
The change of use land use was standardised by VUDA with three proforma with emphasis on specifying the land use with implication for traffic, parking, environment etc. The first proforma is by the applicant, the second by GVMC and the third by VUDA after which it would be sent to the government. This has been evolved after VUDA’s bitter experience last year. Also building plans approval would also follow a standard proforma with auto DCR to reduce delay. The regional offices of VUDA to be opened soon would send scanned copy of the building plan to pave way for quick approval. The Srikakulam regional office would be opened next month.
Following demand from several sections, Gurajada Kalakshetram will get modern roofing at a cost of Rs.3.1 crore and a platform for public performance near Ramakrishna Beach with an amphitheatre would be taken up.
At Chinamushidivada an indoor stadium would be constructed. At Thotlakonda a park would be developed within the CRZ norms. At Madhurawada it intends to develop an open exhibition ground in 17 acres.
Unauthorised layouts
VUDA had identified 290 unauthorised layouts in Visakhapatnam district alone, 87 in Vizianagaram and 26 in Srikakulam district, Mr. Sasidhar said.
Soon after verifying applications for Layout Regularisation Scheme, they would be made public and put on website. Big thrust has been given for LRS approvals by taking up regular drives. As many as 8,000 applications of the 19,000 received are in various stages of processing.
Mr. Sasidhar said in view of criticism that VUDA was catering to the high-end sections, development of satellite townships would be taken up at Gambhiram and Anakapalle to cater to the middle class and lower middle class. VUDA would fix cost and add a small margin.
The Engineering wing had completed works worth Rs.60 crore. While works worth Rs.188 crore were going on another Rs.296 crore were proposed, Mr. Sasidhar said adding they all related to roads and infrastructure.
VUDA Chief Engineer I. Viswanatha Rao, secretary G.C. Kishore Kumar, estate officer B. Bhavani Das, chief urban planner R.J. Vidyullatha and chief accounts officer D. Vijaya Bharathi were present.
