Works on housing colonies progressing well: Jogi Ramesh

VISHAKHAPATNAM: Minister for housing Jogi Ramesh said that he was impressed with the progress of Jagananna housing colonies that were being built in various parts of Visakhapatnam City as part of Navaratnalu Pedalandariki Illu.

He said this while reviewing the housing scheme with senior officials of the government and the district.

Ramesh said that the first phase construction of houses will be completed before 2023 December. The government has started 16.6 lakh houses in the first phase and completed 1.80 lakh houses so far and four lakh houses are in the final stages. The minister said that the government has incurred an expenditure of Rs 7,469.28 crore on the scheme so far.

He said that as per the proposals, 17,005 layouts will soon be established as new colonies with necessary infrastructure. He said that Rs 9,200 crore was being invested on infrastructure facilities for these colonies. He said that the government is sending Rs 32,909 crore for permanent infrastructure to create water facilities, electricity, roads, drainage and other works. Besides these, Rs 10,000 crore for water supply for construction of houses and Rs 1,041 crore for critical infrastructure was also being provided.

Special chief secretary (housing) Ajay Jain instructed all officials to be involved in the prestigious program and make efforts to complete the construction within the stipulated time.

M. Shiva Prasad, joint managing director, Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation Limited, Dr. A. Mallikarjuna, Visakhapatnam collector, joint collector K. Viswanathan, project director housing P. Srinivas Rao and other district officials participated in the meeting.

Earlier, collector Mallikarjuna explained the progress of construction in the district through a PowerPoint presentation.

Local MLAs Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, T. Nagireddy, mayor G. Hari Venkata Kumari, Paderu MLA K. Bhagyalaxmi and MLC Varudu Kalyani participated in the review meeting