Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday promised to float tenders in January 2015 for construction of Signature Tower at Rushikonda to improve the brand image of Visakhapatnam.
Replying to questions at a press conference here, he admitted delay in launching work on the Signature Tower that was announced on September 29. He said that the project could not be taken up because of the cyclone Hudhud. He said once the tenders were short-listed, the process for laying the foundation stone for the tower would begin. Signature Tower, with improved design, is proposed as a landmark to make it more appealing than the Cyber Towers of Hyderabad.
The 10-floor Signature Tower is planned in an area of 21.16 acres on Hill No. 3 of IT SEZ, Madhurawada, with a built-up area of 10 lakh to 20 lakh square ft. Earlier, on a representation of the Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), Mr. Naidu promised to provide higher bandwidth to IT companies at the SEZ and Wi-Fi to the city as part of efforts to promote Brand Vizag.
Railway zoneOn delay in implementation of special category status and backward area package by the Centre, Mr. Naidu said that the Centre was in the process of notifying their implementation. He said the State government was pursuing with the Centre the issue of formation of separate railway zone by separating Waltair zone from East Coast Railway. On the grant of Rs.1,000 crore by the Centre towards Hudhud relief, he said the government was trying to get the amount as well as more grants for reconstruction work.
