The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has started an exercise to identify vacant plots in its layouts. Since its inception as Town Planning Trust in 1962, the VMRDA has developed 53 layouts in different parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh in the last six decades.
VMRDA teams are visiting each layouts to list the plots that have not been sold in earlier auctions or left vacant for future development. Based on outcomes of the survey, the VMRDA can take a decision on open auction or repurposing the unoccupied plots.
The VMRDA teams have so far covered various layouts spread out in Kanapaka Ayyannapeta (Vizianagaram), Kurmannapalem, Kapuluppada, Akkireddypalem, Marripalem, Seethammadhara, KL Rao Nagar, Rushikonda, etc.
VMRDA secretary K Raghunatha Reddy said that several odd bits, including plots having commercial value, have been left vacant in some layouts. “For instance, if a particular plot is found unoccupied, it will be verified with the original records to determine its status. As the final list will be prepared will all these details, this will also help prevent any further encroachments. The VMRDA may also consider auctioning the open plots, which will fetch revenue to the urban development authority,” said Raghunatha Reddy.
