Huge demand for PMAY houses in Vijayawada

• Corporation receives more than 60,000 applications so far
• Government allots only 28,000 houses in the city
• Land is available for construction of only 8,000 houses
• Acquiring land is a challenging task to the revenue and corporation officials

Vijayawada: The ambitious scheme of ‘Housing for All,’ the Pradhana Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) being implemented jointly by the Central and State governments evokes massive response in the city due to increasing demand for houses after the bifurcation of the State.

The Union government had sanctioned 28,152 houses to Vijayawada city. But the land is available for construction of only 8,100 houses in the city. Under the programme, Andhra Pradesh Township and Infrastructure Corporation (APTIDCO) will construct the houses.

The APTIDC is constructing three types of houses, 300 square feet, 365 square feet and 430 square feet. The cost of 300 square single bedroom is Rs 5,62,000,double bedroom with plinth area of 365 square feet costs Rs 6,74,000 and 430 square feet house with double bedrooms costs Rs 7,71,000 per unit.

The State and Central governments are giving subsidy of Rs 1.50 lakh to each beneficiary. The remaining amount has to borne by the beneficiary. The applicants can pay the money to government in four installments as per norms.

The revenue department handed over land in Jakkampudi to APTIDCO for construction of 8,000 houses in the first phase, said Mohana Rao, Executive Engineer, housing, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation. He said efforts were on to acquire land in Jakkampudi village to start the second phase of works.

He said eligibility criteria to get housing unit is the annual income of beneficiary should be less than Rs 3 lakh, applicant should have white ration card, should not be a government employee and must not own a house.

The revenue and Vijayawada Municipal Corporation are verifying the applications by visiting the houses of applicants.

The Corporation has arranged helpdesk at the VMC office to furnish information to applicants on allotment of houses. District Collector B Lakshmikantham strictly instructed the revenue staff, who is working in mandal offices in city to complete the survey and verification work as early as possible.

Consequently, revenue inspectors and village revenue officers are busy in verification of applications. The APTIDCO, revenue and Municipal Corporation are working in co-ordination to speed up the selection of beneficiaries and construction of houses.

More than 60,000 applications were submitted for the houses in Jakkampudi colony. As the wide publicity is given that advanced technology is being used for construction of houses, thousands of people belong to poor and middle-class families are ready to pay the money and own a house in the city.

S Rajesh, an applicant, said he is ready to pay money if house is allotted. “I have been living in rented houses for more than 10 years and now I am determined to get a house under PMAY because the cost is very less.” Like Rajesh, hundreds of men and women are coming to Corporation office daily to enquire the status of allotment.

Applications are submitted through Meeseva centres and MLA offices. The MLAs are playing important role in selection of beneficiaries. CPM State secretariat member Ch Babu Rao alleged the TDP workers would be largely benefitted in the selection of beneficiaries due to interference of MLAs.