VISAKHAPATNAM: The government of Andhra Pradesh has announced plans to build homes for 177 families residing in the Velampeta slum area of Visakhapatnam.
This decision came during a meeting led by P Narayana, the municipal administration and urban development minister, with officials from the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), including GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg and VMRDA metropolitan commissioner Tej Bharath, held in Amaravati. Financial decisions regarding the housing project will be made shortly.
In December, Minister Narayana visited Velampeta Lakshmi Nagar slum in the Vizag South constituency, accompanied by local representatives and officials. Residents, many of whom are daily wage laborers, expressed their urgent need for housing, having lived in the area for nearly 50 years. They highlighted the challenges faced during monsoon seasons and asked for the construction of homes with basic amenities. The minister toured the slum, witnessing the dire living conditions and promised to prioritize the area as a special project with comprehensive development plans.
Additionally, the Amaravati meeting addressed the master plan preparation for the VMRDA region. A total of 15 roads are proposed, with Narayana instructing officials to expedite the completion of seven roads in the first phase.
The meeting also explored developing a tourism circuit in Visakhapatnam, linking Kailasagiri, Kambalakonda, and the Zoo Park. The minister encouraged the VMRDA commissioner to collaborate with tourism department officials to enhance tourism development and suggested raising public awareness to regularize unauthorized buildings and layouts within VMRDA boundaries.
