GVMC plans 60 theme parks, cycling tracks across city

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) will develop 60 theme parks and dedicated cycling tracks across the city at an estimated cost of nearly ₹16 crore as part of its efforts to promote public health, sustainable mobility and environmental conservation, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said on Friday.

Addressing the media, Mr. Garg said that 60 parks identified for upgradation would be developed as theme parks at a cost of ₹10.97 crore. GVMC currently maintains 174 parks, including 139 colony parks spread over 151 acres. The proposed theme parks will feature walking and jogging tracks, children’s play areas, open gyms, yoga zones, landscaped gardens, CCTV surveillance, solar lighting and other civic amenities.

To encourage cycling, GVMC has proposed a 700-metre-long beachfront cycling track near Sagar Nagar Beach at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore and a 5.2-km cycling track near the Arilova Skill Development Centre at a cost of around ₹3 crore.

Mr. Garg also announced the completion of a 1.2-km Heritage Walking Track between Poorna Market and One Town Police Station in the South Zone, developed at a cost of ₹42 lakh. The facility, equipped with signboards and directional markers, will be opened to the public shortly.

The Commissioner further said GVMC would voluntarily observe every Monday as “Cycling Day”, with officials and employees encouraged to commute to work by bicycle wherever feasible.