AP launches Rs 1.05 lakh cr plan to turn Vizag into a rival of Hyd, B’luru
The development plan, dubbed ‘Vision Visakha,’ encompasses enhancing connectivity, bolstering industrial landscape, urban planning, improving city infra
Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday said the YSRCP government has prepared a vision to develop Visakhapatnam as a world-class city with an investment of Rs 1.05 lakh crore on infrastructure over a period of 10 years so that it can compete with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Addressing a meeting with representatives from the industries, commerce and hospitality sector here on ‘Vision Visakha’ projecting it as the biggest development plan ever in East India, he said before bifurcation, the development was totally Hyderabad-centric ignoring the requirements of other cities in for getting their due share in various fields. He said their focus will be on strengthening connectivity, industrial landscape, urban planning and city infrastructure, livability and social infrastructure, sustainability and climate resistance. Later he launched ‘Cascading Skills Paradigm’ for the State named Bhavita amid fanfare.
Reddy said Visakhapatnam is getting investment at the rate of 10 per cent of GDP on infrastructure, whereas the State average is 7 to 9 per cent as against a national average of 4.5 per cent. Citing reports, he said Singapore is attracting 1 per cent of GDP on infrastructure, compared to 3 to 4 per cent in Hong Kong and 4 to 5 per cent in Malaysia. In terms of growth, Visakhapatnam was almost on par with Japan, Singapore and South Korea (what they used to be a decade ago).
As part of the blueprint, it has been decided to focus on multi-lane roads, flyovers, metro, rail, freight corridors, ports and Bhogapuram International Airport as part of further improving the connectivity. Six lane roads are being developed from Anakapalle to Anandapuram, Sabbavaram and Sheilanagar and Anakapalle and other routes. Sheilanagar to Visakhapatnam is being converted into a 10 lane road on which work has commenced. The city already has two BRTS corridors. Visakhapatnam Port to Bhogapuram as a six-lane road will be laid at a cost of Rs 6,287 crore. Estimates are being prepared for Anakapalle and Tallapalem six-lane roads.
