Providing transit accommodation for residents of Suryatejanagar to pave the way for development of the slum in situ under Rajiv Awas Yojna has been hanging fire for several months now.
The process of taking up the development of the slum started after the stone-laying by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in August last. The pilot project is aimed at providing 154 individual houses and 54 housing units in G+1 at a cost of Rs.11 crore.
The GVMC called for tenders in October-November to ready the transit accommodation. Though the tenders have been called for three times there is no response from contractors, according to sources. The reason for none coming forward , reportedly, is the estimated cost of Rs. 85 lakh which is considered not adequate. Consequently, the tender amount has been increased to Rs.1.53 crore. In the tender process, however, provision for reusable material has been made following a direction given by the then Municipal Commissioner M. Janaki. With several slums identified for upgrading, the material could come in handy for the corporation later.
But theamount for transit accommodation in addition to that approved in the pilot project has to be borne by the Municipal Corporation, it is learnt. letter has been addressed to the Special Officer, in the absence of an elected body, seeking permission to bear the extra amount, say sources.
Wall and culvert
The permission is expected soon, after which tenders will be called. Once the tender is awarded, the contractor will be given four months to complete the work. To take up the work in situ development, a retaining wall to the storm water drain nearby and a culvert linking the areas across it are to be completed. Tender for the retaining wall at a cost of Rs.44 lakh and the culvert at Rs.9 lakh have been finalised and work will be taken up soon, it is learnt.
