Political pressures prevent SUDA from taking up ₹20 crore worth developmental activities

Srikakulam Urban Development Authority (SUDA) is unable to take up ₹20 crore worth works with the reported delay in finalisation of tenders for the provision of street lights, beautification, and others in Visakhapatnam-Amadalavalasa stretch and other places like Pathapatnam, Narasannapeta and Tekkali.

According to sources, the public representatives and their confidants have been putting pressure on SUDA officials for sanction of works under the nomination process so that they can select the contractors on their own. Some of them sought relaxation in tender norms so that their chosen contractors would get the works from the SUDA.

SUDA authorities feared that the delay in finalisation of tenders would lead to lapse of the funds allocated for the financial year 2025-26. They have urged senior officials of Municipal Administration to find out a solution since they were sandwiched between the pressures from local leaders and rules and regulations.

“Many departments that don’t have funds have not taken up any developmental activity in the last one and a half years. SUDA has funds, but pressures from local public representatives prevented the organisation from taking up beautification, street lighting and other works in several Assembly segments,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

A few officials of SUDA are expected to go to Amaravati to explain the situation in Srikakulam district to higher authorities. They are hopeful that the Municipal Administration senior officials might release fresh guidelines for taking up the works.

“We are also planning to propose execution of the works with our own team from SUDA on the lines of Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), which takes up works on its own due to its vast experience,” he added.

The local public representatives defended themselves, saying that their opinions should be considered by SUDA since they would know the right contractors who can complete the works as per the schedule.