Chandrababu Naidu cycles 5.5 km in Vizag on World Environment Day, pushes green agenda
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu didn't just mark World Environment Day with a speech — he cycled 5.5 km through Visakhapatnam at 76, then directed Andhra University to go Net Zero, hit 90% green cover like Tirumala, and become a biodiversity park. The rally was as much a policy push as a photo op.
Key Takeaways
Chandrababu Naidu led a 5.5 km bicycle rally in Visakhapatnam on 5 June , World Environment Day.
The 76-year-old chief minister rode for approximately 22 minutes from Andhra University campus to Novotel Hotel .
The government targets a 50 per cent increase in green cover across Visakhapatnam.
Andhra University — currently at 25 per cent green cover — has been directed to become a Net Zero campus and biodiversity park.
Naidu cited Tirumala's green coverage of nearly 90 per cent as the benchmark to aspire to.
A comprehensive sustainability plan for AU includes solar energy, biogas, waste recycling under 'Swachh Patham' , and wastewater management.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu rode a bicycle through Visakhapatnam on 5 June, World Environment Day, covering 5.5 km from the Andhra University (AU) campus to Novotel Hotel in roughly 22 minutes. The 76-year-old chief minister led the rally alongside several other participants to drive home a message on greenery, pollution control, and sustainable urban living.
The Bicycle Rally and Its Message
Naidu called for cycling to become a way of life and announced that a dedicated cycling track is being laid in Visakhapatnam. He urged citizens to use bicycles to cut carbon emissions and to plant at least one sapling each to protect nature. Before the rally, he planted a sapling at the Andhra University Engineering College grounds, where officials briefed him on ongoing plantation drives.
Visakhapatnam's Green Targets
The chief minister said the state government is working to increase green cover in Visakhapatnam by 50 per cent. He cited Tirumala, where green coverage has reached nearly 90 per cent, as a benchmark. By contrast, he noted that Andhra University currently stands at only 25 per cent green cover and asked the Vice-Chancellor to take immediate corrective measures. He also voiced concern over rising temperatures and disrupted ecological balance, saying, 'We are facing extremes — either intense heat or cyclones.'
Net Zero Vision for Andhra University
Naidu directed that the AU campus — spread across 450 acres — be transformed into a 'Net Zero' campus and eventually a biodiversity park. He called for solar energy generation to meet all of the campus's energy needs, with panels installed on buildings and trees planted in open spaces. A dedicated team of professors, he suggested, should be constituted to implement the Net Zero policy, with AU positioned to guide other educational institutions across the state.
Waste and Pollution Management Directives
The chief minister outlined a comprehensive sustainability roadmap for the university, covering solid waste management, biogas production from waste, recycling under the 'Swachh Patham' initiative, wastewater management systems, and waste-to-energy plants. He also recommended the use of PNG and electric stoves for cooking on campus. On the city level, he said measures would be implemented across all sectors — starting from the port — to reduce pollution in Visakhapatnam.
Officials and Next Steps
Legislative Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu, district public representatives, and senior officials attended the programme. Naidu said a development blueprint for AU is being prepared and stressed that students should be active partners in shaping the campus's future. The push to make AU a model green institution is expected to serve as a template for sustainability initiatives across Andhra Pradesh's higher education sector.
Point of View
But the harder test is the policy architecture behind it. Directing Andhra University to achieve Net Zero while its green cover sits at just 25 per cent — against Tirumala's 90 per cent — exposes a wide gap between aspiration and ground reality. The 50 per cent green cover target for Visakhapatnam is ambitious for a rapidly industrialising port city, and the absence of a timeline or accountability mechanism makes it easy to shelve. Whether the 'Swachh Patham' and Net Zero directives translate into funded, time-bound programmes — or remain World Environment Day declarations — will be the real measure of this initiative.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu do on World Environment Day?
CM N. Chandrababu Naidu led a bicycle rally in Visakhapatnam on 5 June, World Environment Day, covering 5.5 km from Andhra University campus to Novotel Hotel in about 22 minutes. He also planted a sapling at the Andhra University Engineering College grounds and called on citizens to plant at least one tree each.
What is the green cover target for Visakhapatnam announced by CM Naidu?
CM Naidu announced that the state government aims to increase green cover in Visakhapatnam by 50 per cent. He pointed to Tirumala's near-90 per cent green coverage as a model and noted that Andhra University currently stands at only 25 per cent.
What is the Net Zero campus plan for Andhra University?
CM Naidu directed that the 450-acre Andhra University campus be transformed into a Net Zero campus and a biodiversity park. The plan includes solar energy generation, solid waste management, biogas production, recycling under the 'Swachh Patham' initiative, and wastewater management systems.
Why did CM Naidu stress cycling in Visakhapatnam?
Naidu said cycling should become a way of life to reduce carbon emissions, and announced that a dedicated cycling track is being laid in Visakhapatnam. The bicycle rally was aimed at creating public awareness about greenery and pollution control.
Who attended the World Environment Day event in Visakhapatnam?
Legislative Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu, district public representatives, and senior officials joined CM Naidu at the event alongside several other participants in the bicycle rally.
