The Hindu 03.05.2011
113 cr for JNNURM works soon
It is part of Rs. 328 cr. due to corporation
The cash-strapped Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is likely to get Rs.113 crore towards the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) projects taken up in the city.
The tranche is part of the Rs.328 crore due to the GVMC from the Central and State governments to the GVMC.
“The Rs.113.61 crore is part of the money to be released by the Central government and the corporation expects to get sometime in the second or third week of this month,” said Municipal Commissioner V.N. Vishnu. The decision followed a review of the JNNURM works by the Chief Minister last week.
However, the release is hardly enough for the corporation to clear arrears of bills due to contractors. The arrears run up to Rs.148 crore. GVMC has taken up 20 projects at a cost of Rs.1,885.68 crore.
So far seven projects have been completed. While 10 projects achieved a progress of 50 per cent for three it is less than 50 per cent.
Mr. Vishnu said work on the Asilmetta flyover, part of the Pendurti-Dwarakanagar Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor, would commence with the clearing of bills. Incidentally, the Rs.22 crore tender for the extension of the flyover by about 0.5 km has been awarded to the same agency presently executing the work. With the flyover work coming to a halt on the arterial Dwarakanagar road, traffic has been hit hard for the past few months.
Linked to reforms
The release of funds has been linked to the implementation of reforms, mainly relating to mapping of properties by using Geographic Information System (GIS) and solid waste management by lifting garbage from the doorstep of residents.
