The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has claimed that a long-pending issue concerning the dream of owning homes for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) employees was addressed during the tenure of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
On September 18, 2023, house plot pattas were distributed in Tirupati to 3,518 TTD employees in the first phase, at a reported cost of Rs 313 crore. More than 300 acres of land was allocated at Padiredu in Vadamalapeta mandal, while another 300 acres was acquired in the Pagili area for developing housing layouts.
Around 9,000 House Plots Allocated
According to the information available, around 9,000 house plots were allocated in three phases to TTD employees, retired staff and pensioners.
In the Padiredu layout, 3,518 plots were distributed under Phase 1, while another 1,703 plots were allocated under Phase 2. Together, the two phases accounted for a total of 5,192 plots.
The housing plot allocations were intended to address the long-standing demand of TTD employees and provide them with an opportunity to construct their own homes.
Delay in Basic Infrastructure
However, concerns are now being raised among beneficiaries over delays in providing essential infrastructure at the allotted sites.
Although the plots have been allocated, facilities such as roads, electricity and water are yet to be fully developed, according to concerns expressed by beneficiaries.
With the coalition government completing two years in office, the TTD governing board has recently approved a proposal involving Rs 230 crore for infrastructure development at the Padiredu layout.
Roads, Electricity and Water Still Awaited
The proposed infrastructure works reportedly include underground electricity connections, tar roads and other basic facilities.
However, critics allege that several of these works are still at the planning and approval stages, despite the passage of considerable time since the house plots were allotted.
For employees who had waited for years to receive housing plots, the delay in creating the infrastructure required to actually construct homes has become a major concern.
Beneficiaries Seek Faster Completion of Works
TTD employees, retired staff and pensioners who received the plots are now seeking faster completion of the pending infrastructure works.
Beneficiaries have urged the authorities to expedite the construction of roads and the provision of water and electricity so that they can make use of their allotted plots and proceed with house construction.
The key issue now is whether the approved infrastructure development works at the Padiredu layout will be completed at the earliest, enabling thousands of TTD employees and retired staff to finally move ahead with their long-awaited home-building plans.
