Visualising the coastal region from Srikakulam to Krishna districts as a Super City will help planned development which would benefit everyone in the region, speakers at a one-day Regional Economic Summit said.
The Visakhapatnam-Rajahmundry-Vijayawada (VRV) Super City has a potential to outstrip any international city, including Singapore, chairman of Gravity 2.0 Vizag Bay Chapter Gopi Kumar Bulusu noted in his introductory address. What is required is focused planning and sharing of resources for overall development of the region, he said.
The resources belong to the nation and not any community, city or region and they should be utilised for the greater benefit of mankind, Chairman of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust Ajeya Kallam said. There is a need to revive the concept of the Land Use Board that evolved a state-wide strategy for the optimal utilisation of resources, he said.
He urged the policy makers to look at the optimal size rather than be carried away by creating monolithic entities like the Greater Visakhapatnam or Greater Hyderabad or Greater Warangal civic bodies. It makes more economic sense to create more centres and invest in creating world-class connectivity.
The policy makers should also consider development of coastal shipping for transport as it is both economic and ecologically friendly, he said.
Stakeholders in development of the region should look at seeding development in the region and focus on global competitiveness, Executive Director of Wadhwani Centre for Entrepreneurial Development at the Indian School of Business Krishna Tanuku said.
A number of industrialists, representatives of industries and other stakeholders in the region’s development spoke at the session.
The summit adopted a vision statement – Vision VRV 2017.
The document proposed that the region be transformed into an economically integrated region that supports industries that create jobs in both urban and rural habitats within the Super City. The document also proposes sustainable development consistent with the traditional roots of the region and our nation.
