*Visakhapatnam* *₹3,963 crore worth of works for Visakhapatnam’s development* *▫️ Major boost to urban infrastructure under Chandrababu’s leadership* *▫️ Development works gaining momentum under Minister Narayana’s guidance* *▫️ World-class infrastructure to provide further impetus to Visakhapatnam as the State’s economic capital* *▫️ Objective is to transform Visakhapatnam into a world-class city* *— Palla Srinivasa Rao, TDP State President & Gajuwaka MLA*

Visakhapatnam- Indian News Times -September 22:* The coalition government is according top priority to the development of Visakhapatnam, TDP State President and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao said. He was speaking at a programme held in Visakhapatnam as part of the virtual foundation-laying ceremony conducted by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

Palla Srinivasa Rao said infrastructure works worth a total of ₹3,963.26 crore were at various stages within the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) limits.

He criticised the previous YSRCP government for neglecting the development of Visakhapatnam and its urban infrastructure. He alleged that development works were not accorded due priority during the Jagan Reddy regime and that the government had failed to provide infrastructure commensurate with the city’s expansion. He said the previous rulers had failed to pay adequate attention to basic amenities such as drinking water, drainage, roads and sanitation. After the coalition government assumed office, stalled development works had gained momentum, he added.

Palla Srinivasa Rao said works worth ₹3,072.73 crore were currently progressing at various stages. Under AMRUT 2.0, ₹833.69 crore was being spent on drinking water supply projects, while ₹1,501.03 crore was allocated under the first phase of IFC-UCF for drinking water and drainage development. Under SBM 2.0, ₹213.38 crore was being spent on solid and liquid waste management.

He said ₹172 crore was allocated for the construction of a working women’s hostel and ₹150 crore for GVMC Sewerage Package-2. Under the ‘Sarathi’ project, ₹99.19 crore was allocated for an AI-based Integrated Traffic Management System at 101 junctions, while ₹65 crore was earmarked for AI modernisation of the City Operations Centre. Another ₹28.44 crore was allocated towards making the city slum-free and ₹10 crore for smart vending zones.

Palla Srinivasa Rao said another ₹890.53 crore worth of works were at the tendering and administrative approval stages. Within GVMC limits, ₹332.53 crore was allocated for roads, drainage, desilting and park development works, while ₹160 crore was earmarked for similar works within the VMRDA limits.

He said the government was according special priority to coastal protection. Administrative approvals were being accorded for works worth ₹222 crore within GVMC limits and ₹176 crore within VMRDA limits to prevent coastal erosion, he added.

New impetus to Visakhapatnam under Chandrababu’s vision and Narayana’s guidance

Palla Srinivasa Rao said the coalition government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, was moving ahead with a clear action plan for the development of the State.

He said a special plan was being implemented for Visakhapatnam’s development under the guidance of Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana, who was paying special attention to strengthening the city’s urban infrastructure.

He appreciated Minister Narayana’s initiative in expediting development works through inter-departmental coordination and ensuring that essential infrastructure was made available to the people of Visakhapatnam.

Palla said projects were being implemented by mobilising funds through Central and State government schemes, loans from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), IFC, HUDCO and government banks, besides public-private partnerships.

He said the government was addressing the infrastructure gaps created during the previous regime and providing modern facilities to Visakhapatnam. He made it clear that all sanctioned works would be completed with quality and within the stipulated timelines and made available to the public.

World-class infrastructure to strengthen Visakhapatnam as economic capital

Palla Srinivasa Rao said the availability of world-class infrastructure in Visakhapatnam would enable the city to develop more rapidly as the economic capital of the State and provide a major boost to investments, industries, IT companies and employment opportunities.

He said the city was being developed in line with its future requirements through large-scale investments in roads, drinking water, drainage, traffic management, sanitation and smart-city infrastructure.

Palla Srinivasa Rao said the development and infrastructure being created in Visakhapatnam itself would be the answer to the negative campaign being carried out by the ‘Goddali Party’ over investments by global companies such as Google in the city.

He said Visakhapatnam possessed the potential to attract global companies and investments, and the coalition government was strengthening its infrastructure to effectively utilise these opportunities.

Palla Srinivasa Rao asserted that Visakhapatnam’s development would gain further momentum under the vision of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and the initiative of Minister Narayana. He said the coalition government’s objective was to transform Visakhapatnam into an economic hub equipped with world-class infrastructure.

Public representatives, municipal officials, coalition leaders and party workers, among others, participated in the programme.