CRDA Approves Rs 547-Cre Infrastructre around AP HC Complex
AMARAVATI, May 30 (TNT): The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) on Saturday approved infrastructure works worth Rs 547.07 crore around the Andhra Pradesh High Court complex and cleared a series of key proposals aimed at accelerating the development of Amaravati as a modern capital city.
At the 61st meeting of the CRDA chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Authority approved 18 agenda items, including major infrastructure projects, tourism initiatives, urban planning measures and regulatory reforms.
Reviewing the plans, the Chief Minister directed officials to give top priority to urban mobility planning in line with Amaravati’s long-term growth strategy and future transportation requirements.
Among the key decisions, the Authority approved the development of infrastructure facilities linked to the High Court buildings at an estimated cost of Rs 547.07 crore.
It also gave the green signal for the construction of a Giant Observation Wheel under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model through the Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBOT) route to promote tourism in the capital region.
The CRDA approved the establishment of an APCRDA Building Tribunal to resolve disputes relating to buildings and unauthorised constructions in Amaravati.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to establish a mediation centre to facilitate dispute resolution.
The Authority further approved preparation of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for planning and development of the Amaravati Economic Region (AER), which will cover nine districts from Eluru to Prakasam.
Naidu instructed officials to prepare integrated development plans for the proposed economic region.
In another significant decision, approval was accorded for creating a dedicated fire wing within CRDA, enabling it to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and establish an independent fire safety regulatory mechanism for the capital region.
The Authority also approved the development of a City Gas Distribution Network under a PPP or joint venture model and cleared proposals for establishing ATMs and kiosks in plots affected by street alignments in Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) layouts.
Under the Negotiable Settlement Policy, the Authority approved allotment of up to five cents of land in village habitation areas to owners of unsuitable plots.
The Chief Minister directed officials to develop housing projects for lower and middle-income groups in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Highlighting Amaravati’s vision as a “Blue-Green City”, Naidu called for greater awareness of emerging urban technologies and instructed officials to ensure that every township in the capital region evolves into a livable and economically vibrant centre with provisions for work-from-home ecosystems.
He also directed officials to establish a central cooling system for government buildings, offices and residential areas in the capital city through duct- and pipeline-based distribution networks.
The Chief Minister stressed the need to strengthen economic activity in the capital region, provide accommodation facilities for attendants of hospital patients and expedite the development of hotels and convention centres in Amaravati.
Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana, Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, Municipal Administration Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar and senior CRDA officials attended the meeting.
TNT KM
