Naidu pushes plan to develop Visakhapatnam as ‘Bay City’

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to develop Visakhapatnam into a world-class ‘Bay City’, with a focus on integrated regional development under the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) framework.

At a review meeting held on Friday, Naidu outlined a long-term vision to develop the coastal stretch from Kailasagiri to Bhogapuram as an integrated development corridor.

To ensure smooth implementation of the plan, he directed the creation of a dedicated Project Monitoring Unit for the VER initiative.

Among the key proposals, the Chief Minister suggested establishing a convention centre on 303 acres of land currently held by the Greyhounds unit. He also called for transforming Kailasagiri into a combined spiritual and tourism hub, with emphasis on beach water sports and entertainment projects aimed at attracting private investment.

Naidu further directed officials to upgrade the city’s zoological park and enhance the conservation and tourism potential of Erramatti Dibbalu (red sand dunes) and nearby Buddhist heritage sites.

Extending the regional vision beyond Visakhapatnam, he said the development strategy should integrate major projects such as the Akhanda Godavari initiative in Rajamahendravaram, the Polavaram project, and the Papikondalu tourism circuit.

He also underlined the importance of developing townships near industrial clusters to support expanding infrastructure and economic activity in the region.