No 'Real' biz in Vizag, realtors first time offer sops to attract buyers

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 25, 2013: The Centre’s exercise to divide the state failed to spur the real estate business in the city.

Realtors hoped that the Centre’s move to split the state would infuse a fresh lease of life into their business. However, there are no signs of it and in despair, realtors, for the first time in Vizag, had begun giving special offiers to the buyers.

The sops include free registration of plots etc. Realtors are of the view that these offers would help them make some money at least than being dry, if none of the plots are sold.

They are ready to bear 8 per cent of the total value of the plot that has to be paid to the land registration department.

There are more than 100 such layouts, that are lying idle without many transactions across the district. First, it was global economic slowdown, later, ambiguity over the fate of Andhra Pradesh since 2009, that has pushed the realty sector into slump.

The UPA’s flip flops over its decision after 2009, regarding division,  has made buyers adopt the ‘wait and watch’ policy.

As ambiguity still continues over the location of the capital of the residuary state, there are not many land transactions in the revenue department. This is mounting the financial burden on small and medium scale realtors, who invested in the business borrowing money from private lenders at high interest rates.

“We hoped that Vizag would be the dream destination for investors and started investing in developing layouts from 2008. But most of plots remained unsold and now, we have started this offer to attract buyers,” said a real estate agent Bhaskar Rao, who developed two ventures of 40 plots each near Kottvalasa, Viziangaram.

He also added that they need not be surprised if some of the realtors go a step ahead and announce that they would furnish the new homes, offer fridges other home appliances if buyers booked a plot.

“The real estate sector in Vizag, witnessed a slump after 2008. Since then, the situation has not improved. Our members are now desperately looking for alternative ways to dispose the plots,” said APREDA local chapter member.

Some real estate firms are also offering ‘arrangement of bank loans’. There are around 100 realtors doing business in Vizag.

Property prices have witnessed a sharp rise in Pendurthy zone, Dakamarri zone, Anandapuram, Yendada, Madhurawada, Thagarapuvalasa, Bheemili, Kottavalasa since 2009, when the Centre announced that Telangana would be carved out and that the process would begin.

Heritage lovers fume at civic body for Kurupam arch demolition

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: Heritage lovers in the city are up in arms over the demolition of a heritage structure by the civic authorities. GVMC staff have demolished historic market gateway, famously called Kurupam arch- gateway in the One Town. The market was donated by Raja Vyricherla Veerabhadra Raju of Kurupam to the then Vizagapatam Municipality on September 1, 1914, to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII.

It was also marked as one of the 50 odd heritage sites in the district and is crying for the attention of authorities for restoration, as it is already partially damaged. It was only recently that a delegation of The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) visited GVMC office requesting the officials to take measures to restore the neglected heritage structure.

A  GVMC team led by its additional commissioner M Janaki visited the site and assured INTACH members that they would take up the restoration work after consulting the experts of Andhra University’s architecture department as suggested by the INTACH fraternity.

“We thought she (Janaki) was so sincere and take up the restoration work. But we are now shocked to see that the entire gateway-arch was demolished instead of restoring or reconstructing it. It’s very unfortunate that such an old, important heritage structure was simply razed. They don’t have any concern towards the heritage structures,” INTACH Vizag chapter convenor, MV Prasad told this correspondent.

 GVMC sources said that since the market arch was in a dilapidated condition they wanted to raze it totally and build shopping facility for the local vendors.  Prasad added that the conservative architects at Andhra University were ready to help restore the heritage site.

“We will be very soon holding a meeting with all the members of INTACH and going to raise the issue in an appropriate manner. We fear they don’t understand the difference between an old building and a heritage structure and are just razing everything stating they are dangerous as they collapse,” added Prasad.  

ODI used to raise united AP demand

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: Samaikyandhra protagonists, especially youngsters, chose venue of the ODI match between India and the West Indies as a platform to show case their aspirations of United Andhra Pradesh. Students flashed placards like “Save Andhra Pradesh“, “Jai Samaikyandhra” during the day and night match, held at ACA VDCA YSR Stadium, in Madhurawada on Sunday.

Along with the national flags and cheering team India, city youth raised slogans of united Andhra Pradesh.

 “We felt it's our duty to rise for the occasion and highlight our cause for which, every section of the society, took to streets demanding that Union government take back the Telangana decision. We tried to highlight our issue and cause by grabbing attention from national and international media,” said Rajesh, who is studying engineering at a city college.

The Samaikyandhra votaries were divided vertically on organising ODI match in Vizag. A few objected and vowed to stop the match stating that the people of Vizag are not in a mood to enjoy such matches, due to the on going stir for Samaikyandhra, some argued that cricket matches should be taken in sporting spirit and such acts would only dent the image of the city.

They opined that the match should be treated as an opportunity to showcase their aspiration. Ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao also wrote a letter to the match organizers seeking to either postpone the match or change the venue from Vizag. However, ACA and VDCA members approached, the minister requesting him to cooperate with them in organizing the match.

“It’s actually a bad idea to demand to cancel the match. It sends wrong signal about Vizag. See, now we could use this as a platform to highlight our cause. A few persons from north India who came to city to watch the match and sitting next to us inquired why were giving slogans like Save AP and we could give them a clear perspective about the ongoing issue,” said Teja.

 Police too were seen deployed in good numbers to thwart any attempt by the Samaikyandhra agitators if they tried to disrupt the match and create trouble. Senior police officials also on Saturday cautioned the Samaikyandhra votaries not to disrupt the match but can showcase their feelings in a democratic and peaceful manner. 

Bhadradri demand splits BJP in Andhra Pradesh

By SNV Sudhir

 Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: When it comes to the demand for inclusion of Bhadhrachalam into residuary state of Andhra Pradesh in state’s bifurcation issue, the BJP which claims to be very clear on the division is also divided on the regional lines.

While the BJP’s Seemandra leaders are demanding inclusion of Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions into Seemandhra, their counterparts in Telangana want both divisions remain with Telangana.

The BJP Seemandhra leaders are maintaining that their central leadership is yet to take a view on it and are hopeful that they would insist on Bhadhrachalam inclusion, as part of the ‘justice for Seemandhra’ stance the BJP central leadership taken recently, before passing the Telangana Bill when it comes to Parliament.

Apprehensions are being raised in Seemandhra region that the Telangana state government, after the bifurcation, may create hurdles to the completion of the Polavaram project, which can provide irrigation water to 7.2 lakh acres in upland areas of coastal Andhra, as the villages that may face possible submergence are located in the Telangana region.

As per the estimates of irrigation experts and the state government, Polavaram project submerges 276 villages with an average population of 642 per village. Of the 276 villages, 204 are in the present Khammam district of Telangana. Out of these 204 villages, 121 are in Bhadrachalam revenue division and the remaining in Palvancha.

“No doubt our party is committed for division of the state. There is no going back on that. At the same time, we are very confident that our central leadership would definitely stand by us on the inclusion of villages coming under Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions to the residuary state.

We were already assured that the central leadership would stress, pressurise for ‘justice’ to Seemandhra during discussions on Telangana Bill in Parliament,” BJP national executive member and former MLA Kambhampati Haribabu told this correspondent.

Though BJP Telangana leaders were reportedly miffed with their central leadership’s now tough stance on ‘justice to Seemandhra’ thinking that it will send adverse message in Telangana region, they toed the party line later. 

The state level leaders from the Telanaga are openly talking about problems, apprehensions, issues of public from Seemandhra region.  

AP bifurcation: Vizag, Vijayawada vie for new capital, Report suggests Vijayawada

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 20, 2013: In the race for the capital of the residuary state, after Andhra Pradesh bifurcation, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stand out to be possible final contenders.

A study conducted by, Delhi based Innovative Transport Solutions (iTrans), an urban transport consultancy, formerly an incubation unit in the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), in association with a local NGO Vaada Foundation found that these two cities have much better existing infrastructure and have the potential to take in more growth over the future.  iTrans has experts from IIT Delhi.

Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur, Kurnool and Ongole were assessed by the group for three months and studied the aspects of - existing population and city area, presence of a thriving economy, and regional connectivity i.e. air, rail and road connectivity.

The existing city area of Kurnool and Ongole is very less and hence creating the new capital is like creating a new city altogether, which is not a good choice, said the report. As per the excerpts of the report, which was prepared by Vaada Foundation, accessed by this newspaper, it involves huge land acquisition and investment requirements from the centre if Ongole or Kurnool is considered. 

Interestingly between Vizag and Vijayawada, even though the former has better existing infrastructure and economy, Vijayawada is a city with good connectivity to all the Seemandhra districts including Rayalaseema, said the report. The report suggested and recommended Vijayawada as a best choice for capital as it has access to two national highways, better rail connectivity.

Barring better air connectivity, Vizag, which is almost on the eastern corner of the state scored less on rail and road connectivity to other districts in Seemandhra. The distance from far off areas like Srikakulam, Chittoor, Anantapur and Kurnool districts to Vijayawada-Guntur is around 450 km to 500 km.  And need to develop infrastructure from the scratch has deprived Ongole and out from the race. 

“Presence of a thriving economy is very important because the experience of creating new cities like Gandhinagar, Mohali and Naya Raipur is not very encouraging. It is observed that the development in these cities continues to happen in the nearby old city which has some base development in place. Cities grow organically over a period of time and they can’t be manufactured instantly,” observed Vaada Foundation founder, P Suresh Raju.

The study was recently submitted to the Group of Minister (GoM), appointed by the union government to look into the process of Andhra Pradesh bifurcation.

Vizag and Vijayawada have the required area within the city limits to build the new infrastructure needed for the capital. Vijayawada and Guntur are both part of the Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTMUDA) which has a total of 706 sq. km. 

Between Vizag and Vijayawada, even though Visakhapatnam has better existing infrastructure and economy, Vijayawada is a city with good connectivity to all the Seemandhra districts including Rayalaseema.

Based on this criterion the study suggested that Vijayawada should be made as the capital for the new state being formed. In case the existing area is deemed to be insufficient the VGTMUDA jurisdiction shall be taken up for the capital.  “It is to be noted however that various other factors like physical feasibility etc. have not been considered as a part of this study,” added Raju. 

Earlier the same group submitted another report to the GoM  stating that the Seemandhra government will have to spend at least Rs 2.5 lakh crore to develop a capital city with proper infrastructure.

The earlier report said that a minimum long-term investment of  Rs 2.5 lakh crore would have to be made for the new city.

The most important requirement would be extensive transport facilities like an international airport, road transport and connectivity to all towns and cities of the state. 

Other important infrastructure requirements would be power transmission and distribution grids, backup supply facilities, underground sewerage and water supply lines and solid waste management facilities.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao bats for Kiran

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 19, 2013: A day after tribal welfare minister P. Balaraju launched a tirade against Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for ignoring him, ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, on Tuesday, batted for Reddy.

Rao said there was no truth in Balaraju’s claim that he was not invited for the chief minister’s programme. The tribal welfare minister was informed and invited four days in advance to the Rachchabanda programme in Chodavaram.

Bickering in the Congress in Visakhapatnam district came to the fore again with Balaraju’s diatribe against the chief minister for allegedly favouring his arch rival, ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.

Though Balaraju has not taken Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s name at the press conference held at Hyderabad on Monday, wherein he charged the chief minister with ‘ill-treatment’ and ‘discrimination’ against him, it is seen as indirect reference to the proximity Rao and Reddy enjoy.

“There is no truth in his (Balaraju’s) claims that he was not informed or invited for Rachchabanda programme held at Chodavaram. I was told by the district officials that the minister was informed in advance about the programme,” Ganta Srinivas Rao told media persons here on Tuesday.

Rivalry between the two state cabinet ministers, hailing from Vizag, was exposed very recently, on November 8, when both of them held review meetings separately with the district officials on the same subject.

Rao and Balaraju never see eye to eye. It is rare to see them together at any programme. Balaraju had even skipped Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s  programmes in the district last month twice.

The minister was also absent from Rachabanda programme in Chodavaram on November 15, in which Rao was seen taking part actively. Both had differed on many issues from merger of Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities.

Ganta creates flutter, opposes ODI, backs celebrity match

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 10, 2013: While the support for India Vs West Indies ODI scheduled to be held in Vizag on Nov 24 is growing among the locals, ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivas Rao, who had opposed the match has drawn flak after he lent his support for a celebrity cricket match in the city on Dec 21.

The minister attended the unveiling of the “Crescent Cricket Cup”, the trophy for the celebrity match, in Hyderabad on Saturday night.  He was the chief guest at the programme that was attended by Tollywood bigwigs like Nagarajuna and a good number of heroines.

The celebrity cricket match will be played between Tollywood and Bollywood teams,  led by Srikant and Suniel Shetty respectively. The match will be played in a 10 over format and the organizers made it a free entry for all. Organisers earlier held similar celebrity cricket matches at Anantapur in 2011 and Hyderabad last year.

 The minister, a few days back, openly opposed conducting the match when tempers were very high in the backdrop of ongoing agitation for Samaikyandhra after the union government decided to divide Andhra Pradesh. He said people are not in a mood to enjoy the match or celebrate. However, the day after his remarks many Samaikyandgra JACs came in support of the match and felt it would enhance the image of Vizag at global level.

Rao also asked the ODI organizers BCCI and ACC to either postpone the match to some other day or shift the venue. On Sunday, more than half a a dozen student outfits affiliated to various political parties held a meeting and pledged their support on conducting the match. Representatives from AISF, SFI, TNSF, BJYM and Loksatta took part in the meeting. “This exposes his (Ganta) double standard attitude. The minister opposes ODI and lends his support openly for a star match. What kind of message is he sending? We condemn his attitude,” said Samaikyandhta student JAC state convenor, Adari Kishore.

Meanwhile, Telugu Shakthi, a voluntary organization conducted a signature campaign on the beach road in support of the match. Public in large numbers signed in support of the match.