Hudhud disaster; Temporary development works in Visakhapatnam pegged at Rs 2,165 crore

Visakhapatnam: The cost for temporary restoration of damages caused by Cyclone Hudhud to six civic amenities —roads, underground drainages, water supply, streetlights, municipal buildings and sanitation has been quantified to a whopping Rs 2165.85 crore in just Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation limits.

In the entire north Andhra which includes Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Vizag which includes GVMC as well as rural areas, the restoration cost has been pegged at Rs 2173.43 crore.

The most damage has been inflicted on the GVMC buildings like schools, office complexes and community halls which will cost the exchequer Rs 1643.95 crore just for their restoration.

Water supply has taken the second highest hit and is estimated to cost a massive Rs 238.90 crore for restoration, followed by roads as 1,263 kilometres of which has been reportedly damaged due to the cyclone and the repairs are estimated to cost at Rs 167.20 crore. 

277 kilometres of underground drainage has been reportedly damaged with an estimated restoration cost of Rs 41.80 crore, Rs 40 crore worth loss of streetlights and Rs 34 crore worth loss for sanitation. In Vizag rural, Rs 1.70 crore worth loss has been reported in Yelamanchili and Rs 33 lakh worth damage in Narsipatnam for the six amenities.

Among the other two north Andhra districts, Vizianagaram reported the temporary restoration cost of Rs 3.92 crore and Srikakulam, Rs 1.61 crores. For the same, Rs 17.89 crore worth damage restoration has been reported in East Godavari and of Rs 28.57 crore in West Godavari.

The total cost of temporary restoration works for damage occurred on roads, underground drainages, water supply, streetlights, municipal buildings and sanitation in the five districts, which include GVMC limits also, is put at Rs 2,202 crore.