Construction Mirror Article detail

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has laid out an ambitious vision to transform the Visakha Economic Region into a $120 billion economic powerhouse by 2032. The region spans eight coastal districts Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju, and Manyam currently home to 15.5 million people with a combined GDP of $49 billion.

In a high-level meeting with NITI Aayog officials, Naidu emphasized identifying one lakh acres of land within the 36,000 sq km zone to support this massive growth. The plan aims to generate 20 to 24 lakh new jobs and establish the region as Andhra Pradesh’s key economic engine. The Key development initiatives include the creation of six ports, seven industrial nodes, 17 agricultural belts, 12 tourism hubs, and six urban service centers. New coastal roads will connect Mulapeta to Kakinada through Visakhapatnam, linking the area to the national highway network.

The government has identified 41 priority projects, focusing on seven growth drivers, ports, IT, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, infrastructure, and urban development. Infrastructure plans include building 7.5 lakh homes, 10,000 hotel rooms, 80 million sq ft of office space, and 60 million sq ft of warehousing to support industrial and urban expansion.

Visakhapatnam is also set to become a major steel and shipbuilding hub, with active participation from leading steel companies in India. On the sustainability front, Naidu highlighted the push for electric vehicles and investments in green hydrogen, solar, wind, and pumped hydro energy projects. Naidu expressed confidence in Andhra Pradesh’s natural resources and sought support from NITI Aayog to realize this transformative vision. This initiative marks a major step toward positioning the Visakha Economic Region as a driving force in India’s future economic growth.