133 happy families enter new houses

C Pradeep kumar
Vijayawada

The mega housing programme ‘Navaratnalu Pedalandariki Illu’ by the State government is picking up pace with the speedy construction of houses, under which the housing layouts are transforming into new localities and colonies. The construction of about 133 houses was totally completed and the happy beneficiaries have occupied their houses in Narayanareddypalli layout in Rayachoty urban in Annamayya district.

According to the Housing Department, a total number of 5,604 plots have been sanctioned in phase 1 with a project cost of Rs 100 crore. Grounding was done for 5,449 houses of which construction work below basement level was completed for 2078 houses. Basement level 2852, Roof level 210, Roof completed 176 and total construction of houses was done for 133 houses in the layout with a cost of 2.81 crore. The extent of each plot is 1.5 cents and interestingly all the beneficiaries are constructing their own house.

According to the department officials, a total of 6,235 bags of cement, 268 mts steel and 5560 mts sand were being used. For land leveling, Rs 29 lakh was released out of the total Rs 1.24 crore. For approach roads Rs 12.75 lakh was released out of Rs 15.70 lakh which was completed and for water supply Rs 2.03 crore was released out of Rs 2.52 crore sanctioned funds. Out of the total number of 5,604 houses sanctioned, 2,870 beneficiaries are under SHG loans, of which bank loans were sanctioned for 503 beneficiaries, SHG loans for 1,635 beneficiaries.

The authorities have provided electricity, roads, drainage and drinking water facilities to the beneficiaries living in the layout. With the beneficiaries’ families and construction workers in large number in the layouts small business establishments are picking pace and general stores, hotels, barber shops, construction material shops and others are being set up in the layout.

A happy beneficiary Pallem Ramadevi expressed her happiness on completing the construction of her house and staying with her family members. She thanked the state government and the officials concerned for cooperating in getting their dream of owning a house come true. She appealed to the authorities for a bus service as hundreds of people including children have to reach Rayachoty on a daily basis.

Pramila Kumari said that she would be ever grateful to the State government and CM Jagan for giving a own house which was their dream. She also thanked the officials and other staff for their cooperation in getting the construction of the house complete on time. She also thanked the bank officials for releasing funds for the construction.

According to Housing Minister Jogi Ramesh, he said the request made by the beneficiaries of Narayanareddypalli layout for road connectivity form Kurnool-Chittoor national through their layout will be considered. He said that transport facilities will be provided to the children and family members residing in the layout for education and health needs. He said that with the construction activity going on at brisk pace employment and financial boost is picking up for the poor.

Speaking to The Pioneer, Housing Special Chief Secretary Ajay Jain said that by December 2023, 21 lakh houses would be completed and at present they have been spending Rs 30 crore a day to achieve the target. As there were heavy rains during the season there was dull progress in the construction activity, however for the coming seven months there will be stiff construction activity to achieve the target.