VISAKHAPATNAM: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has announced plans to amend the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act of 1979, marking a significant step towards establishing a Slum Rehabilitation Authority in Andhra Pradesh. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of urban redevelopment under the newly introduced Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) program. GVMC has initiated pilot projects for slum redevelopment in Velampeta and Indira Gandhi Nagar, submitting proposals to the state government.
Both localities are set to be transformed into high-rise residential complexes. Currently, residents face challenges related to inadequate housing, cramped living conditions, poor sanitation, and a lack of essential civic amenities, all contributing to health and safety risks.
GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg shared that Velampeta will feature a G+12 building accommodating 177 families, while the Indira Gandhi Nagar project will involve a G+6 structure for 110 beneficiary families. “With an estimated cost of around Rs 40 crore, these projects will be executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, placing no financial burden on the state government or corporation. GVMC has analyzed successful slum rehabilitation approaches from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru to implement similar strategies in Visakhapatnam. Beneficiaries will receive homes free of charge, while developers will be incentivized with transferable development rights (TDR) and floor space index (FSI) benefits to build additional floors,” Garg elaborated. “We prepared a detailed project report, which was submitted to the State Government for in-principle approval, completing the process in just 45 days instead of the usual two to three years. We aim to invite proposals within the next week to kickstart housing construction by March,” he added.
The Velampeta housing initiative is projected to cost Rs 23.17 crore, benefiting 177 families. Each beneficiary will receive Rs 1.5 lakh from the central government and Rs 1 lakh from the state under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The corporation will also invest in essential infrastructure like internal roads, water supply, and sewage facilities, with additional project funding sourced through TDR benefits for extra FSI.
The TDR benefits are estimated at Rs 10.93 crore. The project spans 59 cents (2,740 square yards), with 678 square yards allocated for the developer and the rest being developed into a G+12 housing complex, where each flat will measure 450 sq ft. During construction, beneficiaries will receive either transit accommodation or rental assistance, with the project expected to be completed within 18 months, and Rs 85 lakh of the Rs 23.17 crore allocated for rental aid.
Similarly, the Indira Gandhi Nagar project, estimated at Rs 16.59 crore, will assist 110 beneficiaries. These housing initiatives were discussed in a recent review meeting attended by municipal administration and urban development minister P. Narayana.
