Visakhapatnam: Vizag is ahead of other districts in the state with regard to implementation of the union government’s prestigious scheme - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The officials had identified three sites in urban, semi-urban and industrial areas of the district and are getting ready to issue the Expression of Interest (EoI), calling proposals from private builders to build townships with affordable housing.
Private builders should construct 30 sq metres flats for those coming under Rs 3 lakh annual income and 60 sq metres flats for those falling in Rs 6 lakh income bracket. This comes in the wake of skyrocketing real estate prices. As a pilot project, in the first phase, these three land sites will be developed. In the later stages, more land sites will be developed. The builder who quotes lowest sq ft price adhering to all the norms and guidelines of housing will be selected to develop these sites.
While the urban area site of 5 acres has been identified at Aganapudi, semi-urban site of 10 acres near Anakapalle and the industrial area site in 10 acres has been identified at Chodapalli village on the Parawada road near Achyuthapuram SEZ. The district administration had also held a series of meetings with the private builders to discuss the new housing scheme, guidelines, norms and also the concessions they need to construct such houses at minimum cost.
"These townships will have houses for those coming under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). We are also asking the builders to look into the possibility of building the 30 sq metres flat with 2 bedrooms and a toilet. We will be issuing EoI in the coming week and basing on the response we will go ahead with the construction. Builders have also sought certain concessions to build these houses at affordable price which we will take to the notice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Both the state and union governments are resolute on providing housing for all," district collector Dr N. Yuvaraj told this correspondent.
