Take Measures To Promote Weekend Economy In Urban Areas: CM

TIRUPATI: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday asked urban local bodies to tap the growing weekend economy and develop cities as engines of growth. Launching ₹11,359 crore worth of urban development works across 123 municipalities and municipal corporations in the state from Kuppam, the CM underlined that people spent about 61 per cent of their income during weekends, while the state government’s 71 per cent of urban expenditure went towards housing and transportation. He advised urban public representatives and officials to combine infrastructure development with economic activity and better living conditions. Naidu wanted the municipal administration and urban development department to focus on improving liveability in cities by creating pleasant and healthy surroundings. He pointed out that the state government has prepared proposals for nearly ₹50,000 crore of urban development works "Works worth ₹22,330 crore are already in progress. Another ₹17,000 crore worth projects will be launched in the next six months.

Completion of these works would change the face of urban development in the state," he pointed out.The Chief Minister said for the first time, urban infrastructure works are being taken up under the Hybrid Annuity Model to reduce the financial burden on 123 urban local bodies, with ₹7,496 crore having been already sanctioned. ₹3,890 crore will be spent in Greater Visakhapatnam alone. ₹4,656 crore will be spent on 2,165 km of roads, ₹88 crore on 210 km of central medians, ₹247 crore on 391 km of street lighting, and ₹509 crore for parks, apart from implementing sewerage works along 300 km. Measures are being taken to store water in reservoirs, complete the Jal Jeevan Mission and provide safe drinking water round the clock. Naidu said urban reforms include faster building permissions, completion of Tidco houses across the state by 2027, and implementation of the Swachh Andhra Swarna Andhra programmes to keep roads and urban areas clean.

He pointed out that the state has cleared 143 lakh tonnes of waste, while two Waste to Energy plants have been functioning and another four plants would be completed soon. He directed municipalities to scientifically manage solid waste through recycling and keep urban areas free of garbage and untreated sewage.Referring to the previous YSRC government, the CM said it has left around 120 lakh metric tonnes of waste accumulated across the state. The previous government failed to properly utilise the centrally sponsored schemes and even diverted some of the funds.Municipal administration minister Dr P. Narayana attended the event online from Visakhapatnam, while senior officials attended from Kuppam. Public representatives and municipal commissioners from the 123 municipalities participated through video conference.