With two international convention centres planned to be developed in Visakhapatnam, the city has bright scope to emerge as a leading hub for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE).
While the UPA-II Government had cleared an initial grant of Rs.20 crore for development a convention centre at Mudasarlova with a total investment of Rs.300 crore, the Telugu Desam Government is now in the process of finalising the bids after completion of evaluation for developing a mega convention centre with a seating capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 opposite Hill No.3 of Rushikonda.
“The government is keen to promote Visakhapatnam, the largest city in Andhra Pradesh as a major centre for MICE tourism,” a senior official of APIIC told The Hindu on Monday. Infrastructure Corporation of AP (INCAP) has been designated as the nodal agency to finalise bids for the beachfront convention centre in an area of 70 to 100 acres.
The convention centre will have a world-class exhibition centre, a five star category hotel, shopping mall including a multiplex, leisure/amusement zone and multi-cuisine food courts.
Varun Group also has a proposal to construct a star hotel with infrastructure for plug and play near the area.
Visakhapatnam has an international airport, a deep draft major port and several major industries. It contributes 14 per cent of State GDP – the highest among all the districts. While the United States wants to develop the city as a smart city along with Ajmer and Allahabad, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is conducting detailed project report for Metro Rail.
The Rushikonda-Yendada convention centre will be developed under Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis to attract industrialists, academics, tourists and pilgrims.
“When it materialises, it will give big boost to IT business, Rushikonda IT Park Association vice-president Naresh Kumar said.
