Andhra Pradesh rolls out 2.5 lakh housewarmings as Naidu opens TIDCO project

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday inaugurated a TIDCO welfare housing complex in Tirupati district, marking the start of more than 2.5 lakh housewarming ceremonies across the state.

The NDA coalition government had earlier distributed three lakh houses to beneficiaries in Rayachoti in November last year, followed by another 2.5 lakh houses.

“Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated a Township and Infrastructure Development Corporation housing complex at Naidupeta. As part of the second phase, over 2.5 lakh beneficiaries will conduct housewarming ceremonies,” the government said in a press release.

The state government has developed TIDCO housing complexes with parks, walking tracks and other amenities.

In two phases over the past 21 months, the coalition government has handed over a total of 5.5 lakh houses to the poor, the release added.

Addressing a public meeting, Naidu said the TDP-led NDA government aims to provide housing to all poor families and is working towards ensuring that no poor person remains without a house by 2029.

“We provided 18.1 lakh houses to the poor between 2014 and 2019. Last year, we facilitated three lakh housewarming ceremonies, and now another 2.5 lakh are being held,” he said, adding that another 4.5 lakh welfare houses will be built soon.

To achieve the target of housing for all by 2029, about 17 lakh more houses need to be constructed, he said, adding that two lakh housewarming ceremonies would be completed by June and another 1.6 lakh by September.

He accused the erstwhile YSR Congress Party government of constructing only 6.5 lakh welfare houses between 2019 and 2024 and alleged that Rs 174 crore paid by TIDCO beneficiaries was “squandered”.

He also criticised the previous government for allegedly offering just one cent of land for housing, with plots located in “graveyards, streams and hills.”

Naidu further promised to provide piped natural gas (PNG) on the lines of a piped water supply.

He said women’s reservation would be implemented in legislative bodies by 2029 and called on women to join the Telugu Desam Party and NDA to serve the public.

Referring to the recent Assembly resolution urging the Centre to recognise Amaravati as the sole capital of the state, he said the city would “overtake” metropolitan centres such as Hyderabad and Chennai to emerge as the top city.

Addressing fishing disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu fishermen, the CM urged them to fish within their respective states’ waters.

He also instructed the collectors of Tirupati and Nellore districts to ensure that only local fishermen operate in Andhra Pradesh waters.

(With inputs from agencies)