Builders misusing BPS to raise illegal structures, says GVMC Commissioner

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg on Sunday said several builders were illegally constructing buildings and additional floors in an attempt to register them under the Government’s Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS).

He made it clear that unauthorised constructions would not be tolerated in the city and that the GVMC was maintaining strict vigilance to detect such violations. The Town Planning Wing, he said, was continuously identifying illegal buildings for demolition.

Mr. Garg added that the corporation had already initiated immediate demolition of such illegal structures in Wards 29, 31, and a few other areas.

He advised owners of unauthorised buildings and multi-storeyed structures constructed on or before August 31, 2025, to avail themselves of the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) and the BPS to regularise their properties. However, constructions raised after August 31, 2025, or those currently being built without approvals, would not be eligible for regularisation under the BPS, he clarified.

To assist the public, the Town Planning Wing has set up a dedicated help desk at the GVMC Head Office. Building owners can contact the desk through 91542‑82649 or 91542‑82654, or approach recognised licensed technical personnel for guidance on the regularisation process.

Mr. Garg also appealed to citizens to report any ongoing unauthorised constructions by calling the GVMC toll‑free number 1800‑4250‑0009.