CommercialLatest Stories

Andhra HC Denies Stay on TCS Land Allotment in Vizag

Representational image VIJAYAWADA: On Wednesday, the high court ruled against halting the land allocation to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Visakhapatnam. The court noted that many states offer land to companies at minimal costs to attract investments, questioning what issue arises if Andhra Pradesh adopts a similar approach. However, the high court indicated that the allotment is contingent upon the final decision regarding the petition. Nakka Nammi Grace, president of the Society for Protection of Civil Property and Environmental Rights in Visakhapatnam, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), arguing that the government’s allocation of land to TCS violates APIIC guidelines.…

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Andhra Pradesh extends LRS guidelines cut-off to June 30

VIJAYAWADA: The state government has instructed municipal commissioners and urban development authority vice-chairpersons to address all outstanding applications under the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS). In light of the cabinet’s recent endorsement of the proposal, the municipal administration department has disseminated comprehensive guidelines for the implementation of the LRS regulations. This initiative is expected to benefit plot owners in unauthorized layouts covering approximately 18,000 acres statewide. As per reports, the Director of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) provided the state government with data indicating that around 14,535 unauthorized layouts, spanning nearly 78,452 acres, were recorded in the UCIMS app by Urban…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

AP CM Seeks Future-Ready Master Plan for Vizag Amid Investment Growth

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive master plan for Visakhapatnam, tailored to future investments and needs. He remarked that numerous companies are flocking to the city, where available land is scarce. During a meeting of the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) on Wednesday, Naidu emphasized the importance of securing appropriate land for incoming investment projects and developing the necessary infrastructure for future growth. In response to concerns raised about traffic and infrastructure difficulties in cities like Pune and Bengaluru, Naidu advised developing a sustainable master plan that would cater to Visakhapatnam’s requirements over the…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Andhra Pradesh to Reintroduce BPS & LRS to Curb Illegal Builds

Representative image created by AI VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government plans to reintroduce the Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) and Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) aimed at regulating illegal structures and layouts across the state. These schemes were in effect during the TDP administration from 2014 to 2019. In response to the rising number of constructions lacking necessary permissions, the government aims to relaunch these initiatives to also boost state revenues. The cabinet is anticipated to review the proposal in their upcoming meeting. The municipal administration and urban development department is preparing a strategy to address the issue of illegal structures and…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Two-Day Consultations on Visakhapatnam Development Plan

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Chairman of the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), Pranav Gopal, and Metropolitan Commissioner KS Viswanathan will be at the VMRDA office on July 16 and 17 (Wednesday and Thursday) to gather public feedback on the master plan. This marks the conclusion of a month-long consultation process aimed at receiving objections and suggestions from the public and local representatives regarding the master plan spanning the VMRDA’s jurisdiction, which includes the districts of Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, and Vizianagaram. Although the initial plan was developed during the YSRCP’s tenure, the new government has opted to revise it due to widespread claims…

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Land registration freeze over ‘tampered’ records in AP

Representative image created by AI VIJAYAWADA: The state government appears to be at a standstill regarding the contentious issue of free-hold lands. Registration for approximately 20 lakh acres of assigned lands has been halted due to suspicions of record tampering. Despite conducting village-level revenue meetings to review land records, the government has failed to address the free-hold lands issue over the past year. Hundreds of thousands of farmers are struggling to sell their lands while the government delays in lifting the ban on registrations for lands marked in the prohibitory lands register. A Group of Ministers (GoM) has been appointed…

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Andhra Pradesh Introduces Self-Certification for Building Permits

VIJAYAWADA: In a significant initiative to streamline business operations and spur real estate development, the state government has announced updated guidelines for the Self-Certification Scheme (SCS) 2025 concerning building permits. The new framework is part of the state’s broader vision to simplify the building approval process while promoting a transparent and inclusive approach to urban development. It aims to empower both citizens and licensed technical personnel (LTPs) through a trust-based approval system, representing a shift towards responsible self-governance instead of stringent regulation. S Suresh Kumar, the principal secretary for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), issued a government order on…

Latest StoriesResidential

VMRDA Greenlights 50-Storey Towers in Visakhapatnam

AI-generated Representative Image VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has approved an ambitious residential apartment project in Visakhapatnam. This is a notable first for any urban development authority in Andhra Pradesh in recent years. VMRDA plans to develop a 4.07-acre site near Pebble Towers in Madhurawada, with a residential complex featuring six 50-storey towers. Pricing details have yet to be finalized. The project will include 3 BHK, 4 BHK, and 4 BHK duplex apartments, along with amenities such as a clubhouse, jogging and cycling tracks, a swimming pool with deck, a children’s play area, and more, comparable to…

Latest StoriesRera

Andhra Pradesh RERA Advises Against Unregistered Flats, Plots

VIJAYAWADA: S Suresh Kumar, the in-charge chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (APRERA) and principal secretary of municipal administration, has issued a warning to the public regarding the purchase of flats in unregistered apartments or plots. He emphasized that such transactions could lead to significant issues for buyers. “We’ve observed that certain developers and builders are soliciting advance payments from potential buyers under the false pretense of ‘pre-launch’ activities for projects that lack APRERA registration. Additionally, some real estate agents are promoting these unregistered pre-launch projects. According to Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development)…