For the first time in Andhra Pradesh, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is set to establish a Slum Rehabilitation Authority.

This initiative is part of the broader Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) plan, aiming to transform urban areas through comprehensive redevelopment. The GVMC has submitted two slum redevelopment proposals for Velampeta and Indira Gandhi Nagar, targeting improvements in housing, sanitation, and public amenities. GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg highlighted that the redevelopment projects will convert these slums into high-rise residential apartments.

The Velampeta project will feature a G+12 building for 177 families, while Indira Gandhi Nagar will have a G+6 structure for 110 families. The estimated cost of these projects is Rs 40 crore, and they will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, ensuring no financial burden on the state or the corporation. Commissioner Garg added, "The projects will offer free housing to beneficiaries, with developers receiving incentives like transferable development rights (TDR) and additional floor space index (FSI)."