GUNTUR: The ball has been set rolling for construction of apartments in Guntur by the Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTMUDA).

The VGTM-UDA has finalised proposals to construct 350 medium-sized apartments for middle class people in an extent of 15,496 sq metres (3.82 acres) abutting National Highway at Ankireddypalem near the Agriculture (Chilli) Market Yard here.

This is the third major housing project being taken up by the VGTM-UDA in its area of jurisdiction and first in Guntur. The decision is in tune with the State Government's policy to provide housing to middle class people at an affordable cost.

The UDA has awarded work for construction of over 2,000 apartments as part of the Amaravathi Township in Mangalagiri to Chennai-based Indo-African Consultants. Another housing project taken up at Chenchupet in Tenali was given to Chennai-based Marg Constructions.

EoI invited

The authority on Tuesday invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from prospective builders for construction of apartments on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode to design, develop, finance, build and market the flats.

``Our only investment is the land, which we would be selling to the highest bidder. However, we have a set a time frame of 18 months for the execution of the project,'' VGTM-UDA Vice-Chairman Y.S. Prasad told The Hindu .

The UDA would shortlist the bidders and then invite request for proposals, in which the builders have to specify the design of the buildings, their financial and technical capabilities, etc. "We are following a three-cover system in the process of finalisation of bids,'' Mr. Prasad added.

Though the size of the individual apartments had not been finalised, VGTM-UDA officials said each flat might be built with a plinth area ranging between 800 and 1,000 square feet.

Once the process of identifying prospective builder is over by May 28, the UDA intends to hand over the land to the agency.

The 3.8-acre land was recently given to the UDA by the district administration.

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