Visakhapatnam will soon be the headquarters of another new authoritiy – Visakhapatnam Regional Zone (VRZ). The State government is creating three new regional zones, including VRZ, for a balanced and decentralised development of the State. An official government order is likely to be issued on December 1.
The DECK building of Visakhapatnam Metropolitian Regional Development Authority (VMRDA) at Siripuram Junction in the city will house the office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VRZ, which comprises nine districts — Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Alluri Seetharama Raju, Kakinada, East Godavari and Konaseema. The Deputy CEO will be the Metropolitan Commissioner of VMRDA. The Collectors of the nine districts will come under the purview of the CEO of this zone.
According to sources, the VRZ will focus on implementing 49 projects designed for the development of the region. These include tourism, transport, pollution-free industries among others. N. Yuvaraj will be the CEO of this zone. He was the Collector and Commissioner of VMRDA in Visakhapatnam in the past.
Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday (November 30), Mr. Yuvaraj said: “The decision is in line with NITI Aayog’s pilot project, where Visakhapatnam and Surat are being developed as “growth hubs” under a national initiative aimed at transforming urban areas into engines of economic growth for India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.”
There is a visionary plan for Visakhapatnam, but it is yet to be formulated for the other two regions [Rayalaseema (headquartered in Tirupati) and Amaravati] he said, adding that higher education institutions like Andhra University or Central institutions like IIM-V will also be involved in the development of the region, apart from other stakeholders.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu doesn’t want the State’s development to be confined to any one district or region, which is why he wants to create three economic zones from the NITI Aayog pilot project and on the lines of Uttar Pradesh, said a Cabinet minister of the coalition government in the State.
Published – November 30, 2025 07:12 pm IST
