Vizag figures ‘smart’ on Modi’s agenda

He managed to enlist U.S. support in the initiative

October 02, 2014 02:53 am | Updated October 18, 2016 03:01 pm IST - VISAKHAPATNAM:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced during his election campaign here that he would ensure that the city got its rightful recognition as a gateway for international trade. Keeping his promise, he has managed to get the United States take the lead role in building it into a smart city.

The city and its future figured in the two-hour discussion Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with U.S. President Barack Obama, following which America declared that it would take the lead role in making Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam smart cities, an upbeat member of Parliament from Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kambhampati Haribabu said.

Visakhapatnam is the only city south of the Vindhyas to feature in the proposal for smart cities underscoring the importance of the city in the national geo-political scenario.

“This should put to rest all the talk of the doomsayers who have been trying to portray the decision to set up political capital of the State in Vijayawada as the end of the road for the city,” Mr. Haribabu said. The city was on the priority list of both Mr. Modi and Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu, and both had many things planned for its future, he said.

The city is also the headquarters of the premier operational command of the Indian Navy and is a strategic centre in the nation’s Look-East Policy both in defence and commerce.

It is the gateway for the vast hinterland of Central India and is set to grow exponentially due to inherent advantages such as location and a conducive socio-economic climate.

Efforts lauded

The behind-the-scene efforts of Mr. Haribabu were visible in the city getting its due share in the Centre’s scheme of things, member of the National Executive of the Builders Association of India Ch. Ramakotaiah said.

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