Khammam: The infrastructure projects being implemented by Sthambadri Urban Development Authority (SUDA) have come as a boon to the people as also the real estate sector in Raghunathapalem mandal, located in a 10-km radius of Khammam town.
Raghunathapalem mandal is part of Khammam assembly segment represented by transport minister Ajay Kumar. SUDA is utilizing a major portion of its funds towards infrastructure projects by laying roads and setting up road lights. SUDA sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the double road project in Venkatayapalem village and another Rs 2 crore for Manchukonda village in the same mandal.
The authority has also released funds for a road expansion project from Koyalachalaka to Chimmapudi, a distance of 6km.
The road projects are helping the real estate developers sell their plots fast. There were 600 ventures in Raghunathapalem mandal before 2018; and they touched 900 now. Keeping in mind the introduction of infrastructure projects in the mandal, the real estate people are buying lands from farmers and shaping them as house sites.
Interestingly, the prices of house plots are equal to those of some colonies in Khammam town, ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per square yard. Venkateswarlu, a resident of Manchukonda, said, “The prices of farm lands were enhanced to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 50 lakh even in remote villages of this mandal.''
Though the SUDA limit covers 16 mandals, officials are sanctioning more projects in Raghunathapalem mandal due to the interest being taken by minister Ajay Kumar. The Hi-Mass lighting system will be introduced to three places apart from its presence in three other places.
The shape of these villages is changing majorly with the 100- feet roads and Hi-Mass lighting systems.
The road projects will reduce the time for travel to Khammam. Many are thus keen on having a villa in these areas. There are 40 gram panchayats in the mandal and 15 villages like Sivaigudem Koyalachalaka, Venkatayapalem, Vepakuntla, Manchukonda, Chimmapudi, Regulachalaka, Kamanchikal and Udakumar Colony are within a 10km distance from Khammam.
In the coming five years, a majority of the farm lands will be changed into residential colonies in the mandal. SUDA chairman Vijay Kumar said, “We are sanctioning road projects to the villages to reduce the distance to the town. One can reach Khammam within 15 minutes from these areas.”
