All Wards In GVMC Will Get Facelift: Mayor

Visakhapatnam:Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao on Monday laid the foundation stone for development works worth ₹1.44 crore in the 33rd ward of zone–IV. Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsikrishna Srinivas Yadav and corporator Bheeshetty Vasantha Lakshmi took part in the programme.

The mayor said the TD-led coalition government was committed to enhancing infrastructure and public amenities across the city of Visakhapatnam. The works launched include a BT road from Leelamahal Theatre Junction to Neelamma Neem Tree and Indira Gandhi Junction at a cost of ₹46.66 lakh, a stormwater drainage system from Allipuram Junction to Captain Rama Rao Junction at ₹48.3 lakh, and another from Leelamahal Junction to South Jail Road at ₹49.5 lakh.

MLA Srinivas Yadav reiterated that the state government would provide amenities in every ward of the South constituency by fulfilling its poll promises. Corporator Vasantha Lakshmi thanked the mayor and MLA, noting that the projects would improve road connectivity, resolve drainage problems, and enhance living conditions in the area.

Smart ration cards launched to ensure transparency in PDS

Nellore:Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy on Monday launched the distribution of QR code–based smart ration cards at the Muttukur Tahsildar office. BJP district president Shipareddy Vamsidhar Reddy, district civil supplies officer Vijay Kumar and other officials were present.

Somireddy said the new cards, embedded with QR codes and beneficiary photographs, would bring transparency and accountability to the public distribution system (PDS). For the first time, details of whether a beneficiary has received supplies will be updated in real-time, thereby reducing scope for irregularities.

He criticised the previous YSRC government’s system of ration supply vehicles, which, he said, never reached homes directly and forced people to collect essentials within a narrow time window. Under the current coalition government, ration shops will function with flexible timings, allowing beneficiaries to collect supplies anytime between the 1st and 15th of the month, he noted.

Senior citizens above 65 and persons with disabilities will continue to receive doorstep delivery five days in advance. Somireddy recalled that the ration card system was first introduced by the Telugu Desam and said the new cards would carry only beneficiaries’ photographs, unlike earlier cards that featured leaders’ images.

Polavaram project delayed due to YSRC, says Ramanaidu

Kakinada:Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has said the Polavaram project was delayed due to “discouragement and negligence” ofthe YSRC government.

The progress of the project was pushed back by 25 years due to the lethargy of the previous administration, he said while distributing Smart Ration Cards at Palakollu village in West Godavari district on Monday.

He said the YSRC government had changed the contract agencies as well as technical experts. The resultant delay of 18 months caused the diaphragm wall to collapse. Now, it would cost `900 crore to build the wall again.

Ramanaidu said that if the Telugu Desam government had continued during the 2019-24 term too, the Polavaram Project would have been completed.

TD holds massive Sthree Shakti Vijayotsava Sabha at Kovur

Nellore:The Telugu Desam (TD) reiterated its focus on women’s empowerment through a massive Sthree Shakti Vijayotsava Sabha held at Kovur on Sunday, which witnessed an impressive turnout of women in a festive atmosphere. The venue resonated with the slogan, “Super Six – Super Hit.”

Addressing the gathering, MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had been working tirelessly for women’s welfare, citing MLA Prashanthi Reddy’s election as proof of the party’s commitment. He assured support for women entrepreneurs through the promotion of MSME units.

MLA Prashanthi Reddy described the TD as the “cradle of women’s welfare,” tracing its legacy from N.T. Rama Rao to Chandrababu Naidu. She credited Minister Nara Lokesh’s vision for shaping the Sthree Shakti scheme, which provides free RTC bus travel—already benefiting 10 lakh women in the district and saving ₹3.7 crore.

She also highlighted schemes including three free LPG cylinders annually under Deepam-2, ₹15,000 financial support under Talli Ki Vandanam, enhanced SHG loans up to ₹10 lakh, and the upcoming distribution of 10 lakh houses to homeless families by March 2026.

Calling Chandrababu Naidu the “elder brother of every household,” she urged women to extend their full support to TDP.

YSRC Youth wing vows to bring Jagan back to power

Tirupati:YSR Congress Party (YSRC) youth wing pledged to work towards restoring Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, declaring its commitment to challenging the “misrule” of the present government.

Speaking after he was appointed party's state youth wing secretary, Annamayya district leader C. Rahul Chakravarthy Reddy said he would focus on strengthening the party, fighting corruption, and addressing poverty. He expressed gratitude to the party chief and acknowledged the guidance of senior leaders Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and Chintala Ramachandra Reddy.

Rahul Chakravarthy Reddy criticised the current NDA government for alleged failures in governance, development, and welfare, while praising Jagan’s earlier tenure as a model of welfare-driven governance and pro-farmer initiatives.

Belonging to Kommeppalli village in Kalikiri mandal, Rahul Chakravarthy is an agriculturalist and businessman. Son of veteran politician C. Srirama Reddy, he has been associated with YSRC since its inception, served on the State Steering Committee in 2013, and played active roles in three elections, alongside farmer and social welfare initiatives in Annamayya district.