R&R, water security, accessibility key to Visakhapatnam Economic Region growth: NITI Aayog Member

NITI Aayog team reviews the Visakhapatnam Economic Region development progress with stakeholders at the VMRDA office on Monday.

| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Describing the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) as a driver of inclusive growth, NITI Aayog Member V. Bala Subramanyam said incoming industrial investments must be paired with proper Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) arrangements for displaced families, and that tourism projects should be speeded up to improve the State’s brand image.Reviewing the VER at the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) office on Monday (August 10, 2026), Mr. Bala commended the State government for its contribution to national development programmes and capacity-building work.He said that the government should plan a long-term approach to drinking water security, heritage conservation, and develop infrastructure that is accessible to all sections of society, including persons with disabilities. He also suggested engaging institutions such as IIT Tirupati for specialised courses in project management and legal frameworks.VER Chief Executive Officer N. Yuvraj gave a brief on the three-tier governance structure comprising the State-level Steering Committee, the Executive Committee and the Implementation Committee. He said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had reviewed the programme on multiple occasions. Mr. Yuvraj also spoke about the key projects, including the Mittal steel plant and its Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) mechanism, and the Visakhapatnam Bay City project, which is expected to boost coastal economic activity.GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg shared the progress on urban infrastructure projects, including underground drainage networks, Central Business District development, slum redevelopment, measures to address drinking water scarcity and the proposed Visakhapatnam Metro Rail project.