Visakhapatnam has several inherent advantages for location of capital of the new State and creation of the headquarters of the proposed new railway zone in Seemandhra.
This was the general opinion expressed by speakers at the regional conference on ‘Development of north Andhra’, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Journalists’ Forum (APJF) here on Monday.
MLC M.V.S. Sarma said that representatives of various political parties, who had raised a hue and cry all these years seeking creation of a new railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam suddenly changed tack before the elections and were only talking of new zone in the new state but were silent on location of the headquarters.
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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Cheruvu Ramakotaiah called for greater utilisation of local manpower by the industries.
He suggested reservations for locals in employment. The BJP would strive for development of education, transportation and medical facilities in north Andhra, he said.
YSRC leader Tynala Vijay Kumar felt that the development of Visakhapatnam can spur the growth of tribal and coastal regions besides contributing to the all-round growth of Seemandhra.
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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representative Sheela Madan expressed the view that meeting the basic needs of the common man could go a long way in fostering all-round development.
Former president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) G. Sambasiva Rao said that political interference was coming in the way of setting up of industries. Representatives of all political parties should sink their differences after elections and work for development of the region, he felt.
Waltair Division, which was earning the highest revenue, should be made headquarters of the proposed new railway zone.
R.V. Rama Rao said that the extended Master Plan of the Visakhapatnam region was up to Tuni and it has the potential to become the capital of the new state.
Though the region has the infrastructure what was lacking was political will and it was the right time for peoples’ representatives to take up the issue.
Air Travellers’ Association of India president D. Varada Reddy called for improvement of inter-district connectivity to various districts in Seemandhra by reviving old air strips.
Former president of CII Siva Kumar suggested that the new state could have two capitals.
Chalasani Srinivas, Harischandra Prasad and Satyanarayana were among the delegates who spoke at the meeting.
APJF State president Krishnanjaneyulu, Visakhapatnam unit representatives S. Shiva Shankar, B. Prabhakara Sharma, and S. Durga Rao were present.