G+5 apartments planned in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: As part of the efforts to reduce the number of slums in the city, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is contemplating constructing G+5 apartments as part of the 'Slum Redevelopment' project at three localities.

Under the 'Slum Redevelopment' project, the existing houses built in the private lands will be demolished and G+5 houses will be constructed. The Municipal Corporation officials have said the scheme would succeed only if the slum dwellers are prepared to surrender their lands to the civic body.

Proposals have been made for the construction of G+5 houses at Dal mill area near Pezzonipet, Wynchpet and Labour colony in Vidyadharapuram. Municipal Commissioner Prasanna Venkatesh told the media on Wednesday that proposals had been made for the construction of houses at a cost of Rs 44 crore in three localities. The cost includes Rs 36 crore for construction of houses and Rs 8 crore for infrastructure development. He said the G+5 buildings would be built with lift facility for the convenience of the beneficiaries. He said proposals were made to construct houses with 300 square feet plinth area.

'Slum Redevelopment' project has been proposed by the Union government to reduce number of slums in cities in the country. But, due to administrative and other reasons, the project has been pending for many years in Vijayawada city. Now, the VMC sent the proposals to the government to take up the project. Nearly 350 beneficiaries had already been identified for allotment of houses under the scheme. The VMC can construct about 700 housing units. The cost of construction would shoot up, said the Commissioner.

Since the land cost is very high, people are not coming forward to give their lands to the civic body for construction of housing units. People are in a dilemma. The officials are trying to persuade the slum dwellers to come forward and take advantage of the project. But, due to lack of trust and clear-cut policies of the successive governments, the project has been pending for many years.