Visakhpatnam, which is proposed to become ‘Smart City’, will be beautified and developed with best infrastructure before the International Fleet Review in February 2016, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said yesterday.
The International Fleet Review will be held in Visakhapatnam from February 6 and ships and Naval officers from 80 countries will participate in it, he said while stressing that best infrastructure will be created by that time.
“The government has already prepared an action plan for the development and beautification of the city with the support of Public Sector Undertakings and some private organisations here before the International Fleet Review next year,” Mr Naidu told mediapersons after concluding the two-day tour of the port city.
The Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government will jointly organise an investors’ meet on January 16 next year in Visakhapatnam and delegates from 60 countries will attend it, he said.
During his two-day tour, Mr Naidu visited various places in Visakhapatnam, including the old city where he expressed unhappiness over the debris and drainage system.
He directed the officials of Greater Visakhpatnam Municipal Corporation to take up immediate repairs of the drains and clear the debris in a time-bound manner.
The chief minister said tourism spots will be developed along with the present attractions like Kambalakonda wildlife sanctuary, Kailasagiri hilltop park and Indira Gandhi Zoological Park.
The King George Hospital and the Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences here will be developed with government funds and the support of PSUs and private organisations, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, he said.
Work on the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), which was delayed due to some technical problems, will be completed soon, Naidu said.
He also said that Visakhapatnam airport INS Dega’s functioning has expanded and a total of 48 flight services, including international ones, operate daily from there.
Visakhapatnam has a lot of potential to be made into a tourism, education and IT hub in future, he added.
