Vizag's "Bay City" Vision: A New Era of Urban Development

In a significant move to promote planned urban development, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved a large-scale Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) covering 1,941.19 acres across the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Anakapalli.

Under Government Order (GO) Ms. No. 146, the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has been authorized to implement the scheme as per the 2016 LPS Rules. Farmers contributing 41.287 acres will receive 1,600 sq. yards of residential and 200 sq. yards of commercial land per acre, while those contributing 15.90 acres under newly approved layouts will be allotted 1,000 sq. yards residential and 200 sq. yards commercial land per acre.

The initiative aligns with NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub vision to position Visakhapatnam as the “Bay City” or “Miami of the East.” It forms a key part of the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) strategy, which targets expanding the regional economy from USD 54 billion to USD 135 billion by 2032.

Planned urban extensions include Vizag 2.0 (210 sq. km) and Vizag Bay City (40 sq. km), both brownfield projects aimed at sustainable urban expansion. Key supporting infrastructure includes the proposed 77-km Vizag Metro Rail project, estimated at ₹4,000–5,000 crore, which will connect major IT corridors to Bhogapuram International Airport.

The LPS model is based on voluntary land contributions, with VMRDA set to monetize surplus land to fund infrastructure, ensuring a self-sustaining, inclusive urban growth model.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.