CM Naidu lays foundation stones for ₹3,892 crore worth development projects in Visakhapatnam

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu virtually laid the foundation stones for 16 development projects worth ₹3,892 crore in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) limits on Tuesday.Mr. Naidu participated in the event from Kuppam, while MP M. Sribharat, Municipal Minister P Narayana, MLAs Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Palla Srinivasa Rao, GVMC Commissioner & VMRDA in-charge Commissioner Ketan Garg and other officials participated in a programme at V-Convention Centre in PM Palem.The major projects are 24/7 drinking water supply system for Madhurawada, East Zone and the surrounding areas at a cost of ₹725.18 crore; modernisation of the existing bulk and semi-bulk water supply connections under the GVMC with advanced metering, automation and SCADA systems at a cost of ₹117.24 crore; and a dedicated industrial water supply pipeline along the Port Road from the Narava Water Treatment Plant to HPCL and other industries at a cost of ₹150 crore.Foundation stones were also laid for five drinking water supply works and two sewerage works worth ₹400 crore under AMRUT 2.0. The ₹446-crore NRW reduction and 24/7 drinking water supply system in the GVMC; Comprehensive sewerage system in Madhurawada Zone-II at a cost of ₹658.61 crore.Mr. Naidu also laid the foundation stone for ‘SARTHI’ – AI-Based Traffic Management at 101 Junctions at a cost of ₹99.19-crore.Minister Narayana said that the GVMC would execute projects worth ₹3,531.47 crore, while the VMRDA would take up works worth ₹369.49 crore. “The government has set a target of completing the projects within 18 months,” he said.MP M. Sribharat stressed the need to strengthen the pipeline network as a large number of drinking water projects were being taken up. He said that plans were being prepared to provide direct water connections to apartment complexes in the city.Collector M. Abhisikth Kishore said that improving the underground drainage system and drinking water supply, developing parks and roads, and introducing AI-based automation systems would help transform Visakhapatnam into a global and destination city.GVMC Chief Ketan Garg said that it was encouraging that a substantial share of the State’s infrastructure projects was coming to Visakhapatnam. Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that rapidly expanding areas such as Bheemunipatnam, Pendurthi and Anakapalli should be developed according to a long-term plan, keeping their future growth in mind.Visakhapatnam East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu urged Municipal Minister to expand the Mudasarlova reservoir.Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao said development works worth ₹30 crore had been taken up in Gajuwaka during the past two years. He stressed the need to focus on developing sports grounds in the constituency.West MLA Ganababu said economic development would follow if the city developed at a faster pace.North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju urged the Minister to sanction TIDCO houses on a large scale. Published - September 22, 2026 08:12 pm IST