The picturesque locales and scenic beauty of Visakhapatnam is a boon for development of the city as a film hub, and the government will provide basic amenities for promotion of the industry, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation for the airport beautification project to be taken up by VUDA and the Airports Authority of India at an estimated cost of Rs.3.22 crore at Visakhapatnam International Airport here on Monday.
He also laid the foundation for construction of Film Nagar Cultural Centre at Kapuluppada on an extent of 15 acres at an estimated cost of Rs.100 crore.
He said that the film industry had shifted from Madras to Hyderabad following the efforts of late actors N.T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.
Recalling that he had laid the foundation for setting up of the Film Nagar Cultural Centre at Hyderabad in 1999, he said that it was inaugurated the following year. Mr. Naidu called upon the industry to complete construction of the Film Nagar here in one year with the same zeal. The other amenities required by the industry could be set up in a phased manner. He said that Visakhapatnam, which was battered by Hudhud last year, would be developed in a better manner. The city would be developed in various spheres on par with other important cities of the world with the assistance of the Centre. He sought the cooperation of the people in fulfilling the plan to plant five lakh saplings all over the district to compensate for the loss of trees during the cyclone. He called upon them to take it as a sustained campaign to protect the saplings and ensure their growth. Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the Centre was committed to assisting Andhra Pradesh in all ways to overcome the bifurcation blues.
Ministers Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, and K. Atcham Naidu, MP K. Haribabu, and ZP chairperson Lalam Bhavani were among those who were present.
Torchlight rally
Later in the evening, participating in a torchlight rally taken out on the Beach Road as part of ‘Rededication Day’ organised by the GVMC to mark one year of cyclone Hudhud hitting the city, the Chief Minister addressed the public along with Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Visakhapatnam MP and BJP State president K. Haribabu. Congratulating the people of the city for their resilience in bouncing back after the massive devastation in the wake of Hudhud on the same day last year, the Chief Minister said the lessons would help the State become one of the best prepared to face any disaster. He said all steps would be taken to give a facelift to the city in time for the IFR scheduled for February.
