Ending decades-long wait for ownership rights over lands, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday distributed regularisation pattas / conveyance deeds to 28,445 families spread across 11 mandals in Visakhapatnam district.
The land regularised under the programme, ‘Pedalaku Pattabhishekam’, covers 399 acres (or 19,33,853 square yards), with an estimated registration value of ₹8,874 crore.
Addressing a large gathering of beneficiaries at the AU Engineering College Grounds here, Mr. Naidu assured that the government would take steps to also regularise the lands of another 22,000 families, who were awaiting pattas due to various legal and administrative issues
“Approximately 10,000 families are facing issues involving irrigation lands and Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) regulations, while another 12,149 families have disputes relating to Panchagramalu lands,” the Chief Minister said, and assured that efforts would be made to resolve the issues and distribute pattas to the eligible beneficiaries at the earliest, and gave instructions to this effect to the District Collector.
Many families had constructed houses on government lands through years of hard work and their children, too, grew up in them. Despite having houses, there was uncertainty over their ownership rights, the Chief Minister said.
“Till yesterday, you have no rights over the land and house. Now, you have all the rights over your house and land. The dream of the NDA government is to fulfil your aspiration of owning a house with legal rights,” Mr. Naidu said.
Pointing out that the estimated registration value of the regularised properties was ₹8,874 crore, he said the market value would be considerably higher. “The title deeds will now enable the beneficiaries to use their properties for obtaining loans,” he observed.
Mr. Naidu said he had a special bond with Visakhapatnam and Uttarandhra region, and that the city was emerging as a major investment destination. “Visakhapatnam is one of the country’s rapidly developing cities. The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram is a game-changer for the city’s future growth,” he said.
“With ports, airports, highways and industries, Uttarandhra is emerging as a growth engine,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the region had attracted 91 projects in the past two years, involving investments of ₹5,37,761 crore and potential to generate employment for three lakh people.
Of these, Visakhapatnam had secured 55 projects worth ₹2.21 lakh crore, with an employment potential of 1.86 lakh jobs, he said.
Lashing out at the previous YSRCP government for burdening the State with a debt of ₹10 lakh crore, the Chief Minister described the 2019–2024 period as a nightmare for the people, marked by irregularities in liquor, sand and land-related issues. Adulterated ghee had been used in the making of the TTD laddu prasadam, he alleged.
Mr. Naidu further alleged that the previous YSRCP government, in the name of developing the city as Executive Capital, targeted valuable lands. Properties were acquired, or placed under Section 22-A prohibited list when people resisted, he alleged.
Referring to the lavish buildings constructed at Rushikonda during the YSRCP term, the Chief Minister said the government was examining several options on how to put them to productive use.
State BJP president P.V.N. Madhav, TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao, MLAs, and District Collector Abhishikt Kishore were present
Published – September 19, 2026 07:52 pm IST
