+
Tirupati Council Halts Land Sale for City Centre Funding
SMART CITIES

Tirupati Council Halts Land Sale for City Centre Funding

The Tirupati Municipal Corporation (TMC) council has rejected a contentious proposal to auction municipal land near the old bus stand to raise funds for the pending City Operations Centre (COC) project. The decision came during the general body meeting held on Wednesday at the SV University Senate Hall, chaired by Mayor Dr R. Sirisha.

Despite a government directive urging municipal bodies to monetise idle assets for Smart City initiatives, the majority of council members opposed the plan. Of the 47 members present, 34 voted against the land sale while 13 supported it. Most of those opposing the move were corporators from the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress (YSRC) party.

The proposal involved selling valuable municipal land — estimated at Rs 1.5 million per ankanam — for as little as Rs 60,000 per ankanam to fund the COC, which remains only 40 per cent complete due to a funding shortfall. YSRC corporators raised strong objections to the undervaluation and the urgency of the proposal, calling instead for alternative funding strategies.

Mayor Sirisha echoed these concerns, stating, “We must explore ways to complete the project without auctioning valuable municipal land. This land belongs to the public.”

However, Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu defended the sale, stating that the state government had advised utilising unutilised corporation assets to complete infrastructure works. Acknowledging the resistance, he announced the formation of a committee to study the viability of the proposal. “The committee will submit a report within 15 days, after which the council will reconvene to take a final decision,” he said.

In other business, the council approved funds for the maintenance of Prakasam Park and Vinayaka Sagar. It also sanctioned works in preparation for the monsoon, including clearing silt from city drains, constructing cement concrete roads and drainage canals, and developing stormwater infrastructure.

Additionally, the council approved hiring rental vehicles for officials and sanctioned an additional Rs 3,000 monthly payment for 38 outsourced employees in the street lighting department.

The Tirupati Municipal Corporation (TMC) council has rejected a contentious proposal to auction municipal land near the old bus stand to raise funds for the pending City Operations Centre (COC) project. The decision came during the general body meeting held on Wednesday at the SV University Senate Hall, chaired by Mayor Dr R. Sirisha.Despite a government directive urging municipal bodies to monetise idle assets for Smart City initiatives, the majority of council members opposed the plan. Of the 47 members present, 34 voted against the land sale while 13 supported it. Most of those opposing the move were corporators from the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress (YSRC) party.The proposal involved selling valuable municipal land — estimated at Rs 1.5 million per ankanam — for as little as Rs 60,000 per ankanam to fund the COC, which remains only 40 per cent complete due to a funding shortfall. YSRC corporators raised strong objections to the undervaluation and the urgency of the proposal, calling instead for alternative funding strategies.Mayor Sirisha echoed these concerns, stating, “We must explore ways to complete the project without auctioning valuable municipal land. This land belongs to the public.”However, Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu defended the sale, stating that the state government had advised utilising unutilised corporation assets to complete infrastructure works. Acknowledging the resistance, he announced the formation of a committee to study the viability of the proposal. “The committee will submit a report within 15 days, after which the council will reconvene to take a final decision,” he said.In other business, the council approved funds for the maintenance of Prakasam Park and Vinayaka Sagar. It also sanctioned works in preparation for the monsoon, including clearing silt from city drains, constructing cement concrete roads and drainage canals, and developing stormwater infrastructure.Additionally, the council approved hiring rental vehicles for officials and sanctioned an additional Rs 3,000 monthly payment for 38 outsourced employees in the street lighting department.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

India To Get Japan’s Latest E10 Bullet Trains

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor will now operate Japan’s upcoming E10 Shinkansen trains, scheduled for launch in Japan in 2030. These advanced trains, an upgrade from the initially tested E5 models, promise higher speeds, enhanced comfort, and cutting-edge features.This 508-km corridor—352 km in Gujarat and 156 km in Maharashtra—is being developed with advanced Japanese Shinkansen technology and is expected to redefine standards in speed, safety, and reliability.Officials confirmed that the Japanese government will supply the E10 series for the project. This collaboration i..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Continental Expands Assistive ‘OnBoard’ Tech to 100+ BMTC Buses

Continental India, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Raised Lines Foundation, and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), has expanded its smart assistive mobility solution ‘OnBoard’ across more than 100 BMTC buses in Bengaluru. Initially piloted on 25 buses, the solution is now set to be installed in 500 buses by year-end.The expansion was officially announced at the BMTC Central Office during a press conference attended by Shri Ramalinga Reddy, Hon’ble Transport Minister of Karnataka.‘OnBoard’ is a bus-mounted assistive technology designed t..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Himadri PAT Rises 48% in Q1 Amid Global Battery Push

Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd reported its highest-ever quarterly EBITDA of Rs 234 crore and PAT of Rs 183 crore for Q1 FY26, with profitability up 48% YoY. Revenue stood at Rs 1,100 crore.CMD Anurag Choudhary attributed the gains to operational efficiencies, improved yields, and focus on high-value battery materials. Himadri also revived Birla Tyres with a new brand identity and plans a multi-platform marketing campaign.The firm signed a licensing deal with Australia’s Sicona for SiCx® anode tech, enabling localisation and commercialisation in India. Himadri also invested USD 4.43 millio..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?