GVMC funds not diverted to Amaravati, says Commissioner

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg on Sunday said the allegations circulating on social media that the State government had diverted GVMC General Funds to Amaravati were “completely false and baseless”.

In a statement, Mr. Garg said the allegations, purportedly made in the name of a member of the Contractors’ Association, were being circulated without verification of facts. He urged contractors not to believe the “false propaganda” and clarified that no GVMC General Funds had been diverted to Amaravati.

He said contractors’ bills were being paid regularly from the GVMC General Funds. From 2019-20 to 2026-27, the GVMC had paid ₹2,620.28 crore against 24,128 bills, he said.

During 2025-26 and 2026-27, payments totalling ₹940.17 crore were made against 6,057 bills, Mr. Garg said.

The Commissioner said the GVMC accorded top priority to clearing contractors’ bills and that, subject to availability of funds, payments were being made every month from the General Funds. He pointed out that ₹95 crore had been paid to contractors on September 7, 2026, towards bills pertaining to November and December 2025.

Mr. Garg said the State government had been extending continuous support for the development of Greater Visakhapatnam. Besides sanctioning grants to the GVMC under the Urban Challenge Fund, AMRUT and the 15th Finance Commission, the government had been supporting the civic body from time to time in effectively utilising its General Funds for city development, infrastructure improvement and better delivery of civic services.

He said GVMC contractors played an important role in the development of the city and appreciated their cooperation in executing and completing various development and infrastructure works entrusted to them within the GVMC limits.