VMRDA to develop 360 sq km around Bhogapuram airport.

With the proposed greenfield airport at Bhogapuram and the metro rail project likely to change the face of the area, the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Devekopment Authority (VMRDA) has decided to prepare a strategic concept plan for nearly 360 square kilometre area in the vicinity of the airport.

The site of the proposed airport lies on the border of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts, some 45 kms away from Visakhapatnam and 25 km from Vizianagaram.

At a time when the state government is intent on making Visakhapatnam the executive capital, experts say that urbanisation and development may need more careful planning.

The concept plan will broadly project the future development and identify areas to be developed. It will come up with proposals pertaining to network improvement, tourism, and strategic public investments. The 360 square kilometre area is located in five mandals of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts.

The project area consists of about 31 square kilometres hill area and a coastline of about 40 km. The city has witnessed its maximum growth towards the northern side in the last 15 years. But experts opine that the new expansion should be well-planned and led by strategic investment by government as well as private sectors.

VMRDA metropolitan commissioner P Koteswara Rao said the proposed 140-km metro rail network and the Bhogapuram airport are expected to further accelerate growth in the northern side of Visakhapatnam city.

“But the growth should be environmentally and aesthetically sensitive. To ensure the same, we have invited consultants to prepare a concept plan for the 360 square kilometre area around the proposed Bhogapuram airport. At a later stage, the finalised proposals made under this concept plan may be dovetailed in the VMRDA master plan (2041), which is under preparation,” said the metropolitan commissioner.

The GMR Airports Limited has recently received the letter of award from the state government for the development and operations of the Bhogapuram airport. On the other hand, the 140-km metro rail project, which will stretch up to Bhogapuram airport on the northern side once executed, will be developed in two phases. However, the detailed project report is yet to be prepared for the metro rail project.

TOI