Rajahmundry News
The State Cabinet has approved the formation of three more urban development authorities (UDAs). They are the Godavari Urban Development Authority (GUDA), Kurnool Urban Development Authority (KUDA) and the Anantapur Urban Development Authority (AUDA).
With these, there will be nine UDAs in the State.
At present, there are the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, Tirupati Urban Development Authority, Puttaparti Urban Development Authority, AP-CRDA, Machilipatnam Urban Development Authority and the Nellore Urban Development Authority, according to Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana.
Giving details of the Cabinet meeting at Velagapudi on Tuesday, Mr. Narayana said the GUDA’s jurisdiction would be spread over 2,215 square km covering six Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and 280 villages.
“There are 1,384 villages in East Godavari district. The UDA would come up between Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada,” he said, adding that 33% of the district urban population would be covered by the proposed authority.
Mr. Narayana said the KUDA would comprise 111 villages and eight mandals in the district. It would be spread over 2,414 square km and cover 62.71% of the population.
The AUDA would be spread over 3,098 square km. In all, 177 villages would fall under its jurisdiction. It would cover 37.72% of the urban population, he said.
Three models
The Minister said the Cabinet had approved construction of 1.2 lakh houses in the urban areas of the State.
Three models — 270 sft, 365, and 420 sft — had been approved.
In the first model, a hall-cum-bedroom, kitchen, and toilet would be constructed. A bedroom, hall, kitchen, and toilet would be provided in the second model. In the third model, the beneficiary would get two bedrooms, a hall, kitchen and toilet.
The three models would be constructed in two types — totally finished and semi finished — taking the options to six for the beneficiaries.
In the first type, vitrified tiles and ‘putti plastering’ would be used in toilet and kitchen and for flooring. In the second type, cement flooring would be done, he said.
The beneficiary would have to pay Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1 lakh in a year, depending upon the model they choose.
The State and the Central governments’ share would be Rs. 3 lakh. The remaining amount would have to be borne by the beneficiary. The government would provide bank loans, he said.
The government intends to invite tenders in a week at places where there were no MLC elections.
The government would write a letter to the Election Commission seeking permission to invite tenders in the areas where elections were slated. The tenders would be opened only after the elections, he said, adding that construction would be completed in 18 months.