Municipal polls in State by February, says Botcha Satyanaraya

Visakhapatnam: The State government is gearing up to hold the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections on or before February, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Botcha Satyanaraya said here on Saturday.

Interacting with the media, the Minister said municipalities across the State would complete the election process by February. Since the case pertaining to the merger of five villages in Bheemunipatnam area was pending, the Minister said it would be resolved soon to pave way for the municipal elections.

Elaborating about the Vishakhapatnam Metro Rail project, Botcga said it will be taken up in two phases. While Gajuwaka-Kommadi project is expected to extend up to the Steel Plant, Steel Plant to Anakapalle project will be stretched up to Bhogapuram, he informed.

"After the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay foundation stone for the project," the Minister stated.

Briefing on the capital city, the Minister added, "Based on the report submitted by the expert committee, a decision on the capital city would be taken soon. The committee will tour across the 13 districts of the State to observe the condition and suggest further on the location of the capital city."

About incomplete buildings, the Minister said that the Chief Minister had given instructions to the officials concerned to complete the construction of buildings wherein 55 per cent of the work was already completed.The meet was attended by Visakhapatnam MP M V V Satyanarayana.