The Ongole Urban Development Authority (ONUDA) cracked the whip on 25 illegal layouts covering a total area of over 100 acres. Although the government gave an opportunity to regularise unauthorised layouts through the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) until April 23, 2026, many people reportedly did not make use of this opportunity.

Speaking on the occasion, ONUDA Vice-Chairperson Kalpana Kumari said, “People should not purchase plots in unauthorised layouts. Building permits will not be granted to the plots in such illegal layouts. Ownership disputes, double registrations and other legal issues are likely to arise. The plots purchased in such layouts will not get government infrastructure.”

“Moreover, loans will not be sanctioned by the banks and financial institutions for constructing houses in such plots. If buildings are constructed in such layouts, they will be considered as illegal structures and will be removed as per the Andhra Pradesh Metropolitan Region and Urban Development Authorities Act (APMRUDA), 2016,” she informed.

As part of the crackdown on illegal layouts, the officials of Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and Regional Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning (RDDTP) have formed 10 teams. In the first phase, they visited Kothapattanam, Ongole, Singarayakonda, Kanigiri, Darsi, Vetapalem and Martur mandals under the jurisdiction of ONUDA.

The ONUDA official also advised people to buy plots only in layouts that have been approved by the government and registered with the Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (APRERA).