Renowned town planner and former Director of Town Planning G. Venkata Ramana Reddy, who had designed a few blocks in the present State Secretariat, breathed his last on Tuesday at his home at Jubilee hills. He was 93 years old.
Born in Chennai and graduating from Bombay School of Architecture, Mr. Ramana Reddy began his career as junior town planning expert in the then Madras State.
After Andhra State was carved out in 1956, he assumed the position of Joint Director in the State capital Kurnool, and subsequently rose to the position of second Director of Directorate of Town and Country Planning, in the combined Andhra Pradesh State.
As DTCP, in which position he continued for 17 years, he was instrumental in designing not only the Secretariat, but the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, and Telugu Lalitha Kala Thoranam structures. He was known for his honesty and uprightness, friends recall.
Close friend of former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, Mr. Ramana Reddy also served as Vice-Chairman of the urban development authorities of Vijayawada, Tenali, Guntur and Mangalagiri towns after retirement, and was the brain behind the Telugu Talli statue on Prakasham Barrage, and various stadiums and complexes.
He was also instrumental in designing Ramakrishna Mutt buildings across the world, and known for his expertise in temple architecture about which he penned quite a few works, GHMC Chief City Planner S. Devender Reddy said. He was also a member of Royal Institute of Town Planners, London.
