VMRDA Chairman vows to make Vizag a sought-after destination

Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Chairman Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao says that among several projects, speeding up the much-awaited NAD flyover work tops his priority list.

Amidst a steady stream of visitors queuing up at his residence to greet him, Srinivasa Rao settles for an exclusive interview with The Hans India. Recalling his late father Dronamraju Satyanarayana's contribution, Srinivasa Rao said when Town Planning Trust was upgraded to Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) in 1978, his father was its first chairman.

"Forty years later, I feel it is an honour to take charge as the first Chairman of the VMRDA. My father taught me to work hard without expecting any results. Though I lost in the recent Assembly polls as MLA, I thank Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for reposing faith in my capabilities and giving me a new lease of life, recognising my hard work," he says.

In tune with Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's pro-employee stand, he said that he feels glad to take a similar step at his level by inking his first signature on 27 per cent interim relief for the staff on the day of assuming office.

Considering the feedback from various departments, Srinivasa Rao said initiatives would be taken to develop the city into the most sought-after tourist destination. "I am going to redefine the purpose of VMRDA and make it more people-centric with the coordination of GVMC and corporation of neighbouring districts, including Vizianagaram and Srikakulam," he says, assuring to give a fillip to the North Andhra region which lags behind on many fronts.

Saying emphasis on the Chief Minister's vision to develop the entire North Andhra belt with enhanced concentration on Visakhapatnam, Srinivasa Rao says, "More number of houses will be built for BPL families.

VMRDA will provide opportunities to middleclass. In addition, development will be in tune with the avowed pro-people policy of the State government without compromising on facilitating lung space for the city."

Defining Visakhapatnam as a cosmopolitan city, the VMRDA Chairman says that efforts will be taken to revamp it into an industrial, pharmaceutical, IT and tourist hub. "In terms of the city's potential, it stands equal to Mumbai and it will certainly be reshaped as financial capital of the State.

Once people from other cities and regions visit Visakhapatnam, they are sure to recommend the place for others to make a trip," he shares. About demolition of Rajiv Smrithi Bhavan, Srinivasa Rao assures that it will only be renovated as a tourist spot which will be useful for the public and there is no intention of demolishing it. Before signing off, the VMRDA Chairman says that he wants to leave an indelible mark on making Visakhapatnam the favourite destination for all.