Siddipet set to get AMRUT fund boost

​Siddipet: Siddipet, which has been selected for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), is undergoing radical transformation.

During the reorganisation of districts, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao promised Rs 100 crore aid for development of the town into A-Grade Municipality

Now the civic body has embarked on rolling out projects for development of the town. It has launched a major project to provide underground drainage for the entire town within three years.

Apart from it, plans are afoot to undertake various civic infrastructure works. Siddipet Municipal Commissioner K V Ramanachary and Municipal Chairperson K Rajanarsu, in an exclusive interview with The Hans India, have listed out the plans for development of Siddipet.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

As much as `170 crore have been sanctioned for Siddipet recently for development works. What are the plans drawn for development?
Chairman and Commissioner: We have decided to build underground drainage system and restore cement concrete roads in the municipality in three phases by spending Rs 400 crore in the next three years. Pipelines to a distance of 360 km will be laid.

Storm water drains in eight municipal wards, beautification of parks and greenery across Siddipet are also on top of our priorities. This is totally Central government funded projects.

What about housing for which the Union government has granted funds?
Chairman and Commissioner: Yes, we have identified 924 beneficiaries, who are currently living in sheds and other shaks. Once they build houses as per the rules, they will get Rs 1.5 lakh as part of the Centre’s individual beneficiary housing programme.

In addition to this, State government has also decided to build 960 2BHK houses. The government is spending Rs 6.05 lakh for each house as part of our ‘housing for all’ scheme.

One of the problems facing Siddipet is narrow lanes. This has been creating traffic and other problems. Is there any long-term proposal to widen the roads by demolishing houses?
Chairman and Commissioner: It is our long-term plan to widen the roads by demolishing structures which have extended onto the roads and also those which need to be acquired for widening the roads.

Compensation will be paid to houseowners whose houses will be acquired for widening roads.

Shopping, vegetable and other markets in Siddipet have also added to the traffic congestion. How are we going to tackle it?
Chairman and Commissioner: We are going to construct five foot over-bridges to reduce traffic congestion at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore by June 2017. We have also given Rs 1.58 crore to traffic police for installing traffic signals and for other works to reduce traffic congestion in the municipal area.

We have already constructed an integrated market spending Rs 12 Crore and are constructing a vegetable market spending Rs 2.25 Crore.

Komaticheruvu is being developed as a tourist destination. What works are being taken up there?
Chairman and Commissioner: We have spent Rs 12 crore for beautification of Komaticheruvu. We are constructing an open air auditorium with a capacity of 800 auidence and have also identified 25 acres of land around the tank as recreation zone.

Water which overflows from Komaticheruvu into Narsapur cheruvu in Siddipet mandal through a canal which passes through the town, collecting garbage, sewage and all effluents. Anybody entering the town would notice it right after crossing the new bus stand. Would that give a negative impression about the municipality to visitors?
Chairman and Commissioner: Once underground drainage system is put into place this problem will be resolved.