VISAKHAPATNAM: Taking strong exception to the recent allotment of Dakamarri Layout near Bheemili by the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) through auction, the city wing of BJP on Friday alleged that the move had diluted the interests of the middle-class people. It demanded that the allotment of layouts through auction be cancelled.
Accusing the VUDA of acting like a real estate organisation, BJP city president M Nagendra said that the development agency had fixed the upset price for the layouts at Rs 10,000 when the government registration price was Rs 3,000. Even the market price was Rs 6,500, he pointed out.
Questioning the rationale behind abolition of the conventional lottery system, Nagendra said that with the auction system was in place, the middle class did not stand a fair chance in getting the layouts.
The price for a square yard reached Rs 16,500 from Rs 14,500, he said, alleging that VUDA gave priority to only revenue generation.
Earlier, the VUDA conducted lottery and allotted the plots to low and middle class people in Seethammadhara, Kirlampudi, MVP Colony, Marripalem, Sagar Nagar, Madhurawada, Midhilapuri, Kapuluppada and Kurmannapalem and etc. With the introduction of auctions, the VUDA is now entering into commercial business, diluting its welfare approach, Nagendra added.