‘Seemandhra will have to start from scratch’

Development of Vijayawada into a solar city favoured

Acharya Nagarjuna University Vice-Chancelor K Viyanna Rao addressing a round-table conference in Vijayawada on Sunday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

A round-table conference on ‘Vision Vijayawada’ organised by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) favoured setting up of research and educational institutions, and creating infrastructure for industries etc. in the city, in the wake of division of State, here on Sunday.

Addressing the conference, the speakers said that Krishna district and the city had vast potential for development. But, successive governments had left the city to its fate.

The Seemandhra, a successor State of Andhra Pradesh, would have to start from the scratch like a Phoenix bird that regenerates from ashes in Greek mythology. Vijayawada could become solar city if hot climatic conditions were utilised properly. The government should encourage agro-based, aqua, poultry industries in view of the geographical advantages, they said. Vijayawada railway station, which is well connected with all parts of the country, should be accorded special status.

The Gannavaram airport needed to be developed into an international airport apart from completing Bandar port as link facility to the industrial sector, they said.

Setting up of research and training institutes like MCR HRD Institute and CCBM that were available in Hyderabad, were also necessary as back-end support to growth in the region. As the division of State was likely to lead to an increase in number of slums, it would pose health problems.

The government should concentrate on a super specialty hospital and improving health education and research in health sector, they felt.

Acharya Nagarjuna University Vice-Chancellor Viyanna Rao, MLC K. Lakshman Rao, industrialist Malineni Rajaiah, AP NGOs Association leader Vidyasgar, Nagarjuna Hospitals director K. Jaganmohan Rao, Vijayawada Chamber of Commerce general secretary Vakkalagadda Bhaskar Rao, DSDO P. Ramakrishna, IMA former secretary Vellanki Sridevi, professor of School of Planning and Architecture Ramesh, Lorry Owners Association general secretary Y.V. Eswara Rao, and CPI(M)leaders V. Umamaheswara Rao, and Ch. Babu Rao spoke.