Naidu directs officials to draft action plan for Visakha Economic Region

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the development of the Visakha Economic Region, covering areas from Srikakulam to Konaseema. He underscored the need for well-crafted strategies to attract large-scale investments to the region.

At a review meeting on Monday, Mr. Naidu said the government envisions the Visakha Economic Region as a major growth hub for Andhra Pradesh. He instructed officials to prioritise the strengthening of cargo-handling infrastructure from Mulapet Port in Srikakulam to Kakinada Port, noting that these ports serve as vital gateways for cargo movement from Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Developing the entire coastline into an East–West Coastal Economic Corridor to boost trade and logistics was essential, he added.

Emphasising the potential of green energy projects, Mr. Naidu said Visakhapatnam is poised to become a global IT hub with the establishment of Google’s Next Gen AI Data Centre. The city should also be developed as a healthcare hub to promote medical tourism, while meeting the rising demand for housing projects, he said.

The Visakha Economic Region is projected to attract investments worth $100–115 billion — including $15 billion from Central Government sectors and $85 billion from private investors, he said.

During the meeting, officials proposed the creation of the Visakha Economic Region Development Authority (VERDA) to oversee and coordinate growth initiatives in the region.