{
  "id": 6427408,
  "title": "177 Velampeta families to get flats where their huts stand; ₹28.44 crore slum redevelopment begins in Visakhapatnam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/177-velampeta-families-to-get-flats-where-their-huts-stand-28-44",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T14:48:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/177-velampeta-families-to-get-flats-where-their-huts-stand-40-crore-slum-redevelopment-begins-in-visakhapatnam/article71446024.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister, P. Narayana, laid the foundation stone for a ₹28.44 crore slum redevelopment project at Velampeta, near Lakshmi Nagar in Visakhapatnam, on September 9, 2026. The project aims to provide 177 families with new flats of about 410 sq ft each, built on the land where their huts currently stand. Each flat is valued at approximately ₹20 lakh.\n\nThe redevelopment effort comes after the minister observed the hardships faced by the residents, including cramped housing and difficulties during the rainy season. Some houses in the area were as small as 6 to 8 square feet. To address these issues, the residents signed promissory notes before moving out, with each family receiving ₹3,000 per month towards rent during the construction period.\n\nThe houses will be constructed using shear-wall technology, which involves concrete walls throughout the structure for enhanced strength and durability. While the construction cost may be higher, the technology ensures a more resilient building. Initial estimates suggest the project would take 18 months, but the minister insisted on a shorter timeline of nine months.\n\nThe Velampeta project marks the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, and the government plans to replicate similar slum redevelopment initiatives in other parts of the state. The minister expressed gratitude to the district collector, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) commissioner, and other officials for bringing the project to the foundation stage.\n\nThe project's significance is highlighted by several residents, such as Lakshmi, who has lived in Velampeta for nearly four decades, and Ramesh, who has resided there for around 30 years. Both expressed excitement about the progress and the opportunity for their grandchildren to grow up in better surroundings.",
  "summary": "Minister P. Narayana lays the foundation stone for the State’s first in-situ slum redevelopment, to be built in nine months with shear-wall technology; each family gets ₹3,000 a month in rent meanwhile, and residents who have waited decades say it feels like a dream",
  "key_points": [
    "₹28.44 crore slum redevelopment project launched in Visakhapatnam",
    "177 families to receive new flats of 410 sq ft each",
    "Shear-wall technology ensures resilient construction"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This slum redevelopment project sets a precedent for Andhra Pradesh, offering a new living standard for 177 Velampeta families and paving the way for similar initiatives across the state.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}