Latest news with #S.SureshKumar
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Urban governance today demands leadership, adaptability and community-centric thinking along with technical proficiency, says official
As urban landscapes evolve, the administrative capabilities governing them should also evolve, said Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar. Speaking at a workshop on 'Capacity Building for Urban Local Bodies' Officials' at the School of Planning and Architecture in Vijayawada on June 3, Tuesday, Mr. Suresh Kumar said urban governance today demands leadership, adaptability and community-centric thinking along with technical proficiency. The workshop, organised by the State government in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and Government of India, brought together Municipal Commissioners of 123 ULBs and key State urban departments, including MEPMA, Public Health and Municipal Engineering, and Town and Country Planning. 'Our vision is to create a future-ready municipal workforce equipped with competencies to serve a fast-urbanising Andhra Pradesh,' Mr. Suresh Kumar said, adding that 40- 45% of the State population is now living in urban areas, which calls for a shift from traditional administrative models to agile and digitally empowered urban governance. Under the Mission Karmayogi (that aims to create a future-ready civil service) framework, the State is initiating comprehensive gap assessments to evaluate existing capacities within ULBs and identify key functional, domain and behavioral competencies required at various roles. Based on these findings, minimum annual training hours will be prescribed for municipal officials, he said. The training will not be limited to technical domains, he added. He said the State is promoting holistic development, with certificate courses offered in areas such as leadership, communication, ethics, digital literacy, and even personality development—ensuring that public servants are equipped not just with professional skills, but with the confidence and emotional intelligence needed to engage meaningfully with citizens. To encourage active participation, the government is considering a framework for non-monetary incentives, such as certificates of recognition, preference in transfers, postings, visibility in performance appraisals, linked to training milestones. Mr. Suresh Kumar announced that each ULB in the State will be supported in developing its own capacity development roadmap, aligned to the city's vision and citizen needs. This will be implemented through blended learning models, combining digital courses with classroom training, field exposure, and peer-to-peer mentoring, he added.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Special cell to approve high-rise building plans within 72 hours in A.P.
In a major step towards accelerating urban growth and fostering an industry-friendly environment, the government of Andhra Pradesh has established a Special Cell under the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) to fast-track approvals for high-rise buildings, on Tuesday. The newly formed cell is tasked with processing development permissions for projects comprising 12 floors or more — including those with Transferable Development Rights (TDR) — within Service Level Agreement (SLA) of 72 hours according to highly placed sources in the government. The decision comes in response to prolonged delays observed at the level of urban local bodies (ULBs) and urban development authorities (UDAs), which the government identified as a significant hurdle to high-rise construction and associated urban infrastructure development. Recognizing the strategic importance of large-scale high-rise projects in stimulating urban expansion and economic activity, the State government directed the Director of Town and Country Planning to prepare a detailed proposal for streamlining the clearance process. Following its review, the government issued formal orders to establish the Special Cell at the DTCP headquarters, authorizing the Director to grant approvals directly within the 72-hour window. 'This initiative reflects our commitment to creating an industry-friendly environment and ensuring ease of doing business in the State,' Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department S. Suresh Kumar said. 'It will significantly reduce approval timelines and promote hassle-free development for citizens and builders alike,' he added. The Special Cell is expected to improve transparency, cut red tape, and speed up the implementation of high-rise projects, contributing to a more robust and responsive urban infrastructure framework across Andhra Pradesh.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Vizag to get three working women's hostels at a cost of ₹172 crore
In a significant development aimed at promoting gender-inclusive urban infrastructure and enhancing the women labour force participation rate (LFPR), the Government of Andhra Pradesh has accorded administrative sanction for the construction of three working women's hostels in the city. The authorities have finalised three strategic locations – Mudasarlova, Madhurawada and Narava. The project will be implemented by the Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL) in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The cost of the project is estimated to be around ₹172 crore. Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, S. Suresh Kumar in a release recently said that this project is being undertaken as part of the Central government's special assistance to the States for Capital Investment scheme (SASCI) for 2024–25, which has received approval from the Ministry of Finance. 'This support underscores a shared commitment between the State and Union governments to enhance the ease of living and economic participation of women,' he said. As per the officials, a two-acre land has been identified near BRTS Road at Mudasarlova for the first campus. The hostel will be constructed at a cost of ₹90.54 crore there. The second hostel will be built on 1.14 acres at Madhurawada with a budget of ₹51.08 crore. The third hostel will come up at Narava with a budget of ₹30.40 crore. The working women hostels will be equipped with modern amenities, adequate parking, food court and space for recreational and cultural activities. These facilities will provide safe, and well-equipped accommodation for working women, thereby supporting their mobility, independence, and access to employment opportunities. The State government has asked the authorities from the MEPMA and the GVSCCL to oversee the implementation of the project. All procedural requirements, including Public Financial Management System (PFMS) integration, financial reporting, and adherence to project timelines, must be strictly followed as per the guidelines. 'The initiative represents a forward-looking approach by the government to create inclusive urban environments that empower women and drive sustainable development,' Mr. Suresh Kumar said.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Wall at Simhachalam was constructed in violation of guidelines, says the three-member committee chairman
The wall, which collapsed at Simhachalam on April 30, was constructed on oral instructions, without any approval and in violation of the guidelines given in the Master Plan, according to S. Suresh Kumar, chairman of the three-member committee, constituted by the government, to conduct a probe. The wall collapse had claimed the lives of seven devotees. The quality of the construction came in for criticism from various quarters. The committee – with S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary (Municipal Administration and Urban Development) as chairman, and Ake Ravi Krishna, IG of Police, and Venkateswar Rao, Advisor and Engineer in Chief, Irrigation (FAC) as members – conducted its investigation at the Government Circuit House for the second day on Friday. Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, Police Commissioner Shanka Bratha Bagchi, temple EO K. Subba Rao, temple EE Srinivasa Raju, APTDC DE Swamy EE K. Ramana Rao , contractor Lakshmana Rao, GVMC Additional Commissioner Ramana Murthy and the NDRF officials were present during the probe. Later speaking to media persons, the committee chairman said that the preliminary investigation was completed and it has revealed violation of guidelines and the construction was taken up on oral instructions. The committee has collected samples from the accident spot, and the views of some devotees would also be taken. These works were supposed to have been completed in August 2024. He said that a report would be submitted to the government on the precautions to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Mr. Suresh Kumar said that based on the findings, so far, a report would be submitted to the government on Saturday (May 3) on the investigations done, so far.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh government eases registration burden for NTR Smart Township plot buyers
In a major relief to middle-income homebuyers, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has introduced a new registration framework for plot purchases in NTR Smart Townships (MIG Layouts) and the CRDA region. The move, aimed at reducing financial stress on buyers, introduces a two-document registration system that significantly lowers upfront registration costs. According to fresh guidelines issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, under G.O. Ms. No. 76 on Wednesday, the registration of plots will now be split into two parts—one document will cover the Base Price (constituting 60% of the total sale value), and a second will account for the Development Charges (the remaining 40%). Crucially, while the standard 7.5% registration fee will apply to the Base Price, only a nominal 0.5% fee will be levied on the Development Charges. S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of the department, said the revised registration structure was framed in consultation with the Registration & Stamps Department after concerns were raised about earlier registration practices, which caused confusion and financial difficulties for plot allottees. The initiative builds on a 2022 government directive, allowing Urban Development Authorities (UDAs) to categorise the total sale value into two components and register plots based solely on the Base Price. However, implementation hiccups followed. In the capital region, for instance, the APCRDA had executed 258 plot sale deeds in Nowluru MIG Layout using this method, but allottees later received recovery notices under Section 41A from the District Registrar for alleged stamp duty shortfalls. Similar complications arose in Visakhapatnam, where the VMRDA had adopted a bifurcated pricing model — ₹8,700 per sq. yd for Base Price and ₹5,800 per sq. yd for Development Charges. However, inconsistent registration practices led to confusion among buyers and officials alike. To address these challenges, a joint review meeting was convened by the Principal Secretary, bringing together officials from the Registration & Stamps Department, APCRDA, VMRDA, the Director of Town and Country Planning, and the Special Officer for MIG Layouts. Following detailed deliberations, a standardised and legally compliant registration process was finalised, Mr. Suresh Kumar said. The government has now mandated uniform implementation of the dual-document registration system across all UDAs in the State. Officials say this move not only ensures clarity and consistency in stamp duty enforcement but also underlines the State's commitment to making affordable housing accessible to middle-income families.
