`348 cr to improve amenities in Srikakulam city

Srikakulam: The district headquarters Srikakulam city will be developed with Rs 348 crore funds. In the wake of corporation elections, the state government is concentrating more on the city to wrest corporation first mayor post. 

Earlier, the government held elections for Srikakulam municipality in 2005 and the term of elected body ended in 2010. Later the government did not conduct elections till 2015. Subsequently the state government upgraded Srikakulam as corporation from municipality in 2015. 

In the wake of fulfillment of formalities after upgrading the civic body as corporation like separation and identification of new divisions and fixing of reservation categories for division wise and enumeration of category wise voters, the elections were not conducted till today.

In addition to it court cases were also one of main reason for delay of elections. The state will conduct elections for Srikakulam Corporation before the Assembly elections.

In this backdrop, the government has been releasing funds for Srikakulam development. The government allotted Rs 100 crore for beautification of city and another Rs 100 crore under smart city scheme for improvement of roads and parks. 

Rs 50 crore allotted for integrated drainage project with an aim to solve drainage issue permanently. Rs 33 crore sanctioned for widening of road leading to Palakonda to clear traffic rush and Rs 30 crore funds for laying of road in all colonies across the city. Rs 20 crore were sanctioned to provide basic amenities on outskirts of city, which are merged in the corporation.

Rs 15 crore allotted for corporation new building as present building is old and not enough to run all sections of corporation.  “Total funding for all development works is R 348 crores and we will spend it by considering all requirements of city residents,” corporation commissioner R Sriramulu Naidu said.