AP State govt keen to merge 37 villages in civic body

Tirupati: The State government is examining the merger proposal of 37 villages in the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) as part of smart cities project. The file is under the active consideration of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The population of pilgrim city including with merged panchayats is 4.5 lakh. After bifurcation of the united State, Tirupati city is growing fast along with Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

The government is concentrating on development of infrastructure and generation of employment in the temple city. Reputed hardware, electronic and mobile making units have become operational in mobile and electronics manufacturing hub near Renigunta close to international airport. It may be noted here that the mobile and electronics manufacturing hub and its surroundings were not under the limits of the MCT.

But, the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) is raising greenery and laying roads. Even, the permanent campuses for central institutions like IIT Tirupati and IISER are coming up under the limits of the Yerpedu panchayat.   Sources say 37 panchayats like Vikruthamala, Yerpedu, Tiruchanur, Padmavathipuram, Oteru, Vedanthapuram, Mallamgunta, Perur, Thummalagunta and Chandragiri panchayats and Renigunta likely to be merged with the MCT.

The State government is thinking it is the right time to merge the above-mentioned panchayats with the MCT as elections to panchayats likely to be held in July 2018. Speaking to The Hans India, MCT Deputy Commissioner MVD Phaniram said merger proposal of panchayats with the MCT is under the active consideration of the government.