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Slum Development / Housing

VUDA nod for rehab of shoddy housing schemes

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The Times of India             04.10.2013

VUDA nod for rehab of shoddy housing schemes

VADODARA: The Vadodara Urban Development Authority (VUDA) board on Thursday cleared the plan for the rehabilitation of the residents of Madhavnagar and Keshavnagar housing schemes in Atladara built by it for the urban poor. Eleven persons had died after two blocks collapsed at Madhavnagar while the houses at Keshavnagar were in a dangerous condition.

The plan comes over a month after the Madhavnagar tragedy that took place on August 28 and close on the heels of the second incident of portions to two more vacated blocks collapsing there on September 27. The authority had been mulling several formulas so far, but it had become evident that it would go on the public-private partnership (PPP) mode to avoid major infrastructure costs.

Madhavnagar had 458 dwelling units while Keshavnagar had 266 making it necessary for VUDA to provide 724 houses to beneficiaries. VUDA chairman N V Patel said that the affected persons would be rehabilitated at their existing sites. "We will not relocate them," Patel said. Even the residents had been averse to the idea of any relocation.

The board meeting on Thursday resolved that the residents should be given houses with built up areas of 25 square metre (sq m) instead of the existing 22.25 sq m houses. The houses will be made using RCC frame structures and not the load bearing technology. A common bid will be brought out for both the schemes indicating that the same developer will handle work at the two colonies.

A committee has been formed to prepare the PPP model for the project. Patel said that the board has decided that the developer will be identified by the second week off November and will have to complete the project within one year of being awarded the work order.

A committee has been also formed to look into the temporary resettlement of the residents of the two housing societies. The developer will also have to bear the expenses of the alternative arrangements till the beneficiaries are given the new houses. Till this happens the present arrangements at both the colonies will continue.

 

Lucknow Development Authority to offer lift facility in apartments for poor

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The Times of India             04.10.2013

Lucknow Development Authority to offer lift facility in apartments for poor

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Development Authority has decided to now build 12 floor multistoried buildings for economically weaker section. These flats would have elevator (lift) facility also. The scheme would start from Kabir Nagar Yojna of Para. LDA's VC AP Tewari has given his approval for the same.

Under this scheme, for Lower Income Group (LIG) and Economically Weaker section (EWS), LDA plans to build a total 2112 flats. Earlier it was decided make these flats only up to four floors. However with lift facility being added, the number of stories in the apartment has been increased to 12. This has certainly increased the project cost for LDA.

LDA is not planning to take this cost directly from poor people. It has decided to put the excess financial burden on bigger flats. Earlier too, LDA has been building 3-story flats for poor people. They were not making multistoried buildings for them until now as it would require lift facility which would increase the project significantly. It is necessary to provide at least two lifts in each block. It also needs large money for lifts' maintenance in future.

LDA has taken the responsibility to look after the maintenance of these apartments on its own. It is providing money for this through its special funds. The project would require almost Rs 125 crore from funds. From this fund, LDA would get Rs 1 lakh per month as interest from this fund. The same interest amount would be used to for repair and maintenance of the project. Hence the financial burden of the upkeep would not be passed on to the poor inmates of these apartments.

Fortunately, economically weaker residents of these buildings would also not have to pay any maintenance fee to the authority. The design would be - 2112 flats would eb made in 11 blocks. Each block would have two lift facilities. Each black would comprise 92 flats.

LDA said a total of 22 lifts would be installed in the LIG and EWS flats proposed under this scheme. The cost has shot up tremendously after adding elevators to the project.

The Para project is recommended on a pilot basis. Whatever excess cost is being calculated, that would be imposed on owners of biger flats, said an LDA official. 

 

902 applications received for VUDA plots

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The Hindu            01.10.2013

902 applications received for VUDA plots

Staff Reporter

With the time for submitting applications online for auction of plots and row houses by the VUDA coming to an end on Monday evening, 902 applications for plots and 57 for Row Houses at Rushikonda were received. As many as 191 individuals submitted 902 applications with multiple choices for 140 plots notified in VUDA layouts at Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram areas. The Row Houses at Rushkonda coming under the hammer are 65. The highest, 38 applications have been received for a plot in Narava joint venture layout followed 19 for a plot in Babametta, 17 in Madhurawada Cyber Valley Layout and 12 for one plot in Kanapaka Ayyannapeta layouts in Vizianagaram.

VUDA Vice-Chairman N. Yuvaraj said the auction would be conducted at Vysakhi Jala Udyanavanam near Police Commissioner’s Office at Suryabaugh for Row Houses on October 5 and for plots on October 11.

The auction process will start at 9:30 a.m. on the respective dates and auction will be continued on October 12 if not completed on October 11 for plots. Since the last day witnessed heavy rush of submission, acknowledgements will be forwarded within two days. Bank counters will be provided at the venue during the auction for obtaining DDs for additional EMD and spot payments after confirmation of bids.

Dr. Yuvaraj along with Chief Engineer I. Viswanatha Rao, Chief Urban Planner R.J. Vidyullatha, Estate Officer B. Bhavani Das and Executive Engineer V. Bhavani Shankar, inspected the venue for auction.

VUDA Vice-Chairman N. Yuvaraj says auction for plots will be conducted on October 11.

 


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