Vizag to get metro city status soon

• As many as 1,340 villages spread in 50 mandals in East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam will come under the purview of the VMRDA
• VUDA has submitted the revised report to the government with the details of jurisdiction, functionaries, members, executive committee members, VMRDA responsibilities and sources of funds and financial issues of the VMRDA
• All the key officials of municipal administration, revenue, finance, commissioner of VMRDA, Collectors of the four districts and director of town and country planning will be members in the board

Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam would get metropolitan city status soon.

The state government has prepared the ground to change the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) into Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) by enhancing its jurisdiction from 5,573 square kilometres to 6,764.59 square kilometres covering 60.53 lakh population.

As many as 1,340 villages spread in 50 mandals in East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam will come under the purview of the VMRDA.

The VUDA has submitted the revised report to the government with the details of jurisdiction, functionaries, members, executive committee members, VMRDA responsibilities and sources of funds and financial issues of the VMRDA.

All the key officials of municipal administration, revenue, finance, commissioner of VMRDA, Collectors of the four districts and director of town and country planning will be members in the board. 

The chairperson of the board will be appointed by the government. There will be three experts of national and international repute who possess knowledge in urban governance, planning, conservation, environment and transportation to be appointed by the government as members in the board.

The VMRDA will take several programmes to generate revenue. Creation of Metropolitan Development Fund and seed capital. 

Revolving fund, annual contribution by urban local bodies with 10 per cent of their receipts, power to levy specific cess for capital infrastructure projects, levy of development and user charges, borrowing money, raising loans, debentures and bonds have been listed as a revenue generation of the VMRDA.