Vizag seeks CRZ-II status for Madhurawada-Bheemili coast
The Visakhapatnam district administration has proposed the reclassification of the coastal stretch between Madhurawada and Bheemili from Coastal Regulation Zone-III (CRZ-III) to CRZ-II, citing rapid urbanisation and compliance with the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019.
Officials said the Andhra Pradesh government had, in 2019, merged five-gram panchayats, K. Nagarapalem, Kapuluppada, Chepaluppada, Nidigattu and J.V. Agraharam, into the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), bringing the entire stretch within municipal limits.
According to data compiled by the district administration, 319.59 hectares of the total 498.68-hectare coastal belt had been developed as of January 2026, accounting for 64.09% of the area and exceeding the 50% threshold prescribed for CRZ-II classification. The extent of undeveloped land declined from 81.42 hectares in 2019 to 64.05 hectares in 2026, indicating continued urban growth.
The proposal was discussed at a meeting of the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA) on May 5 and is expected to be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for consideration while updating the Coastal Zone Management Plan maps.
Officials argued that retaining the stretch under CRZ-III norms could hamper several key infrastructure and tourism projects, including the proposed six-lane coastal highway linking Visakhapatnam Port with Bhogapuram Airport. The reclassification is also aligned with development initiatives under the proposed Visakhapatnam Economic Region Plan and the Vizag Bay City project.
The GVMC and the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) have stated that the area is supported by adequate urban infrastructure, including road connectivity, drainage networks, water supply and sewerage systems.
Officials said the proposal had also received support during the public consultation process, strengthening the case for reclassifying the coastal stretch as CRZ-II.