Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will head the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Development Authority (VMDA) proposed to be formed to oversee planned development of the region to make it the financial capital and an alternative to Mumbai.
“The city is well-endowed in terms of location, climate and human and other natural resources and with planned development it can not only compete with Mumbai but also become a more favoured destination for investors and employees,” Mr. Naidu said at a press conference here on Monday.
He said the VMDA proposal would be discussed in detail by the Cabinet.
A consultant would be appointed to work out the details and a definite action plan would be framed after the Hudhud cyclone relief work was completed. The VUDA would be upgraded into VMDA and strengthened, he added.
Besides the two major ports in the region a third port was coming up, he disclosed and said that with more ports planned along the coast the State was poised to become the Gateway to India for exports and imports.
The Chief Minister launched a massive green drive in the city by planting a sapling at the MVP Colony here.
Speaking on the occasion, he congratulated the residents of the city for their steely resolve to bounce back after the Hudhud damage. He took the officials to task for not being prepared with proper answers at a review of the relief works.
He addressed people of the city during a carnival organised by the A.P. Tourism Development Corporation on the Beach Road.
Mr. Naidu also felicitated officials for their role in relief operations.
‘TS govt. unwilling to solve issues’At the press conference, Mr. Naidu said the Telangana government was creating problems on every issue and was not willing to find a solution even though A.P. was trying to solve every issue amicably. “Differences will only create more problems. Even their people are suffering,” he said.
