GVMC Launches Inspection Drive Against Unauthorised Layouts

Visakhapatnam: GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg has directed town planning officials to conduct a thorough inspection of unauthorised layouts across Visakhapatnam and to prepare a detailed report. This directive is in response to challenges encountered in granting permits under the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) for incomplete layouts.

The commissioner’s decision followed his inspection of an unofficial layout developed by ABK Real Estate Company in Kommadi village, located in the Madhurawada Zone. He was accompanied by deputy city planner K. Venkateswara Rao and assistant city planner Shabnam Sastry during this visit. The layout, covering 14.4 acres and containing 163 plots, was found to be incomplete due to a lack of connectivity between internal roads and the main roads.

During the inspection, the commissioner reviewed the plots belonging to landowners who had applied for LRS approval. He noted that 83 landowners had purchased plots, with 75 applications currently under review. He highlighted that the absence of road connectivity was creating significant hurdles for landowners seeking permits from the state government.

While inspecting the layout, he contacted the developer to address the lack of road connections and warned that immediate action must be taken to link and develop the roads. Otherwise, strict legal measures would be enforced.

Additionally, the commissioner instructed DCP Venkateswara Rao and GVMC chief city planner A. Prabhakar Rao to investigate unauthorised layouts across the city. They are to compile a comprehensive report and thoroughly review LRS applications. Town planning officers, planning secretaries, and other officials participated in the inspection programme.