The Hindu : Front Page : City poised to enter big league

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Sunday, Jul 13, 2008
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City poised to enter big league

Staff Reporter

Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy briefing the media on the decisions taken at a review meeting in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. MP T. Subbarami Reddy and Minister for Commercial Taxes K. Ramakrishna are also seen.

VISAKHAPATNAM: With the Centre announcing the sanction of Rs. 1,575 crores to Visakhapatnam for augmenting infrastructure, the city is poised to have world-class facilities in the next few years.

The funds with 50 per cent as matching grant from the State Government and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation will be spent in grounding 17 mega projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Funds to the tune Rs.2,137 crores will be sanctioned in the next phase. Decisions to this effect were taken at a high-level meeting held by Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy here on Saturday. State Minister for Commercial Taxes Konathala Ramakrishna, Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao, GVMC Commissioner M.K. Meena and others were present.

‘Happening place’

Describing Visakhapatnam as a ‘city with a bright future,’ Mr. Jaipal Reddy told reporters that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was keen on bringing international facilities by developing Visakhapatnam in all spheres. He said the UPA Government would extent full support for developing the city. The Union Minister also said the tenders for BRTS would be finalised soon. Of Rs. 1,575 crores, Rs. 452.93 crores will be spent for BRTS. Two transit corridors will be developed connecting Simhachalam and Pendurthi, including a tunnel. Under the Basic Services to Urban Poor Scheme, seven projects were approved for Visakhapaptnam with Rs. 416.07 crores for construction of 15,320 houses for slum-dwellers. Mr. Jaipal Reddy said the city was far ahead in implementation of reforms. However, he said the city must try to implement earmarking 25 per cent of developed land in all housing projects for economically weaker sections/low income group.

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