AP govt approves land pooling in Visakhapatnam

In a decision which could end the impasse over the affordable housing project, the government on Friday gave its nod for land pooling in about 880 acres in the city’s suburbs. These include a 321-acre land pocket in Ramavaram village of Anandapurammandal and 560 acres inMudapaka of Pendurthimandal. The pooled land will be allocated to housing projects under the ‘Housing for All by 2022’ mission. VMRDA will shoulder the responsibility of land pooling and development of these lands for which it will get a 25% developed land to meet the expenses incurred in the process. The government has sanctioned about 54,000 housing units, in four phases, under affordable housing in partnership category. Identifying suitable land pockets has become the biggest challenge for officials due to unavailability of big land parcels in and around Vizag city.