TDP for probe into escalation  of VMC building works costsMembers demand thorough investigation by a fact-finding committee

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) council has initiated an investigation into the rising costs of constructing a new office building at its headquarters. TDP Floor Leader Nellibandla Balaswamy criticised the project’s quality and called for a thorough review of the budget increases. Other members supported Balaswamy’s demand and requested closer scrutiny in this regard.
The VMC Council meeting was held in the council hall and chaired by Mayor Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi on Wednesday. During the meeting, TDP floor leader Balaswamy raised the issue of increasing the values for some works in the VMC’s new office building. TDP members expressed concerns about the recent allocation of works related to the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) new building.
They have demanded a thorough investigation by forming a fact-finding committee, citing discrepancies in the cost estimations. According to the TDP, the enhanced values given to the contracting agencies are significantly higher than the original estimates, which were reportedly three times less.During Wednesday’s meeting, which covered around 120 issues, discussions moved slowly, leaving key civic matters unresolved. The VMC council meeting, which was initially set to address 120 agenda items, ended up discussing only a few, likely due to the new political developments and the focus on unnecessary matters.
One significant topic was YSRCP Corporator Bandi Punyaseela’s proposal to relocate the Kedareswara Peta fruit market to Nunna Mango Market. Punyaseela’s suggestion received mixed reactions, with some corporators opposing the move due to traffic congestion and pollution concerns.
The council also revisited the issue of stray dogs, with members from all parties expressing frustration over ineffective sterilization drives. The lack of progress in controlling the stray population remains a public safety concern.
Additionally, the council addressed a sharp decline in VMC’s advertisement revenues, which dropped from Rs.26 crores in 2019-20 to Rs.16 crores in 2023-24. Corporators accused advertisers of evading payments, prompting the council to take legal action to recover the dues.
Meanwhile, members expressed their concern over the shortage of sanitation workers in their respective divisions. Though the government has given consent to appoint additional sanitation workers, Public Health Department officials have neglected this for several years, members alleged. They demanded immediate steps to recruit additional staff for their divisions to maintain sanitation. TDP member Mummaneni Prasad urged the council not to allow the Dandamudi Rajagopala Rao Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium to go private, as the stadium’s income was gradually reducing. He urged the council to bring the overall control of VMC.
VMC Commissioner HM Dhyanachandra and other officials attended the council meeting.
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