Visakhapatnam launches first in-situ slum redevelopment project

Andhra Pradesh has initiated its first in-situ slum redevelopment scheme in Visakhapatnam's Velampeta locality, marking a significant shift in the state's approach to urban housing. Minister P. Narayana laid the foundation stone for the ₹40-crore project, which will provide permanent housing to 177 families currently living in makeshift settlements.

Under the redevelopment model, residents will receive flats constructed on the same land where their existing huts stand, eliminating the need for temporary relocation to distant sites. The project employs shear-wall construction technology to expedite completion, with authorities targeting a nine-month timeline for finishing all structures.

During the construction period, each displaced family will receive a monthly rental assistance of ₹3,000 to help manage housing costs. The in-situ approach addresses long-standing concerns among residents who have occupied the area for decades, many expressing relief that permanent housing appears within reach after years of uncertainty.

The Velampeta project represents a departure from traditional slum redevelopment models in the state, where residents are often relocated to faraway locations, sometimes losing livelihoods and community ties. Authorities view the scheme as a blueprint for future urban housing initiatives across Andhra Pradesh.