GVMC Commissioner promises uniform compensation and TDRs to those affected by road-widening in Simhachalam region of Visakhapatnam

GVMC Commissioner C.M. Saikanth Varma promised uniform compensation, TDRs to Simhachalam road-widening victims. He also said that the corporation will ensure that the victims get benefits of 'Jagananna Housing for All' scheme. He said that the agency maintaining street lights will be given ultimatum to connect 70,000 street lights to CCMS boxes. Demands for open gyms, renovating drains, providing amenities at burial grounds were made.

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner C.M. Saikanth Varma has said that all those affected by road-wdening in Simhachalam region will receive uniform compensation as well as TDRs at the earliest. He promised that the corporation will also ensure that the victims get the benefits of ‘Jagananna Housing for All’ scheme. He was speaking during the council meeting which was held under the auspices of of Mayor G Hari Venkata Kumari here on Monday.

Corporators and representatives from Simhachalam region spoke about the issues being faced by the Simhachalam road-widening victims during the council meeting. With a few more road extension works to be taken up soon in the region, the members said that the GVMC should create awareness among the victims first.

Corporator P.V. Narasimham said that the corporation has demolished the houses without issuing any notices to the households, which was very unfortunate. He alleged that many victims were yet to receive compensations.

Visakhapatnam West MLA P.G.V.R. Naidu (Gana Babu) said that though road extension was welcomed by all, there was communication gap between the people and the corporation while initiating works on the ground. He said the corporation officials should first create awareness among the people about the benefits of the road extension works, convince them and then try to vacate them before taking up demolition. He sought that the corporation should go for phase-wise road widening works in other parts of West constituency.

Co-option member (YSRCP) Behera Bhaskar Rao urged the council to provide structural compensation and TDRs first and then issue notices to the people, instead of evicting them first. He also said that in Survey No.275 (Simhachalam), most of the residents do not have proper documents regarding their houses. He has urged the council to issue them adequate compensations by checking the house tax receipts, door numbers and other available documents.

Mr. Saikanth Varma said that the corporation was following a proper procedure to ensure transparency.