VISAKHAPATNAM : To ease traffic congestion, the government decided to take up road widening on the stretch between Old Post Office and Jagadamba Junction to 60 feet. The works are likely to commence in January after the Sankranti festival. People who lose their properties will be compensated adequately.
HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao reviewed various tourism development projects, Smart City plans, Swachh Bharat and other programmes by the government in Visakhapatnam district Thursday. With regard to the developmental activities in Visakhapatnam city, efforts are being made for operationalisation of the Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) commencing December 15. The maintenance of the premises will be handed over to a public sector undertaking. Similar plan will be implemented to hand over different government hospitals to different PSUs to improve conditions at the hospitals and offer better services to patients.
Visakha, Araku Utsavs from Dec 25
This year, the government has decided to hold both Visakha Utsav and Araku Utsav together from December 25 to 27. The decision is said to have been taken in the wake of budgetary constraints as well as to attract more tourists for the festivities through advanced publicity campaigns. Further, it has been decided to reconstruct Rajiv Smrithi Bhavan which suffered severe damage during cyclone Hudhud last year. Srinivasa Rao along with Rajya Sabha member T Subbarami Reddy will launch the works on November 18.
For all-round development of Visakhapatnam city and its surroundings, the government is making efforts to set up Visakha Metropolitan Development Authority replacing the existing Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA). With regard to the regularisation of encroachments up to 100 sq.yards on government lands, the authorities have received over 10,000 applications so far and at least 50,000 more applications are expected. A decision is pending over the Gajuwaka House Committee lands.
CM Coming on Nov 19
CM N Chandrababu Naidu will participate in the inaugural session of the second World Disaster Management Congress scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 19. He would also inaugurate the World Telugu Heritage and Cultural Museum on Kailasagiri and also open Agarwal Eye Hospital besides the SC/ST loan mela during the visit. He is also likely to make a night halt in the city and participate in the National ENT Doctors Conference to be held on November 20.
