Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Commissioner and Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) member-convener K.S. Viswanathan said that Visakhapatnam has its unique and strategic importance in the development of Andhra Pradesh. It is now on the verge of transformative growth, in line with the innovative `Growth Hub’ concept of NITI Aayog. Significant steps are to be taken to bridge existing gaps, he said.
Delivering a keynote address on CII Visakhapatnam zone’s conference on ‘Swarnandhra Vision 2029: Visakhapatnam Region Leading Growth & Innovation,’ here on Friday, Mr. Viswanathan said that the State government is addressing the issue of high land costs in Visakhapatnam through public private partnership (PPP), and planned to invest ₹200 crore on 15 priority roads this year.
Revised master plan
He announced development of revised master plan, incorporating stakeholder inputs, among other necessary infrastructure projects before the full operation of Bhogapuram international airport.
He spoke about the government’s objectives of rejuvenating ancient waterbodies in the city to prevent urban flooding.
Another chief guest, Partha Sarathi Reddy Chevuru, Programme Director (island, PPP) of NITI Aayog, New Delhi, said that the Growth Hub initiative of NITI Aayog aimed to identify the key growth drivers. Visakhapatnam is one among the cities of the initiative. He stressed the need for industry-aligned policies and strategic city planning to boost both urban development and economic growth. He highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s advantages, including its long coastline, robust ports, highways, airports, and rail network, offering industries reduced logistics costs.
He advocated models like Transfer of Technology (ToT) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InviT) to drive development in the highway sector.
CII Andhra Pradesh chairman V. Murali Krishna presided over the conference.
Later, a panel discussion on Building Organisations Fit for Future was organised. Former chairman of CII for AP Neeraj Sarda moderated the discussion while Mallika Grandhi, Ravi Kumar Yellanki and V. Dharmender spoke on jewellery, seafood trade and realestate business sectors.
Published – February 28, 2025 07:24 pm IST
