Vizag Bay City: Chandrababu Naidu orders action plan for world-class transformation
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has set his sights on turning Visakhapatnam into a world-class Bay City — stretching from Kailasagiri to Bhogapuram — with a 303-acre Convention Centre, revamped zoo, Red Sand Dunes tourism, and a dedicated Project Monitoring Unit for the Visakha Economic Region. It is among the most ambitious coastal development pushes in post-bifurcation Andhra Pradesh.
Key Takeaways
CM Chandrababu Naidu on 5 June directed officials to formulate an action plan to transform Visakhapatnam into a world-class Bay City .
The Bay City Project will stretch from Kailasagiri to Bhogapuram , covering tourism, infrastructure, and economic development.
A Convention Centre is to be built on 303 acres of Greyhounds department land.
A dedicated Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) is proposed for the Visakha Economic Region spanning nine districts .
Key tourism assets earmarked include Erra Matti Dibbalu , Buddhist heritage sites , Papikondalu , and the Akhanda Godavari Project in Rajamahendravaram .
The NITI Aayog report on VER is to be made public for stakeholder feedback.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 5 June directed senior officials to draw up a comprehensive action plan to transform Visakhapatnam into a world-class Bay City, outlining an ambitious roadmap spanning tourism, infrastructure, and economic development across the Visakha Economic Region (VER). The directive came during a high-level review meeting attended by Collectors of nine districts, public representatives, and state officials.
Bay City Project: Scope and Vision
The Chief Minister instructed officials to develop the Bay City Project stretching from Kailasagiri to Bhogapuram, positioning Visakhapatnam as a premier coastal destination. He called for attracting investments in beach-based recreational projects, including water sports and entertainment facilities, designed to offer experiences across all age groups.
Naidu also directed the construction of a Convention Centre on 303 acres belonging to the Greyhounds department, and stressed the need to develop Kailasagiri as both a spiritual and tourism hub. Modernisation of the Visakhapatnam Zoo was also flagged as a priority to enhance its draw as a major tourist attraction.
Tourism Assets and Heritage Development
The Chief Minister emphasised developing the region's distinctive tourism assets, including the Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) and Buddhist heritage sites. Highlighting the Godavari region's untapped potential, Naidu noted that the Akhanda Godavari Project in Rajamahendravaram, alongside the Polavaram Project and Papikondalu, could emerge as large-scale tourism magnets if infrastructure is strengthened.
Institutional Framework for VER
To ensure effective coordination, Naidu suggested establishing a dedicated Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for the Visakha Economic Region. He also directed officials to place the NITI Aayog report on VER in the public domain, inviting suggestions from students, intellectuals, and other stakeholders to enrich the region's development vision.
Additionally, the Chief Minister directed a focus on developing townships adjacent to industrial zones being set up around various projects in the region, signalling an integrated approach linking industrial and urban growth.
Key Officials Present
The review meeting was attended by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, state ministers K. Atchannaidu and Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, along with MLAs and Collectors from nine districts spanning Srikakulam to East Godavari. Senior bureaucrats including VER Convener and Industries Secretary Yuvaraj, Special Chief Secretary (Transport) M.T. Krishna Babu, Principal Secretary (Health) Saurabh Gaur, Principal Secretary (Finance) Piyush Kumar, IT Secretary Katamneni Bhaskar, and Visakhapatnam District Collector Abhishikt Kishore were also present.
The Bay City vision, if executed, would mark one of the most sweeping urban and economic transformations in Andhra Pradesh's post-bifurcation development story — with Visakhapatnam at its centre.
Point of View
But Andhra Pradesh has a track record of ambitious regional blueprints — including the Amaravati capital project — that have stalled on execution. The proposal to make the NITI Aayog VER report public is a positive transparency signal, but a Project Monitoring Unit alone does not resolve the deeper challenge of inter-departmental coordination across nine districts. The real test will be whether private investment in beach recreation and tourism infrastructure actually materialises, or whether Visakhapatnam's coastline remains an underleveraged asset as it has for decades.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Visakhapatnam Bay City project?
The Bay City project is an initiative directed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to transform Visakhapatnam into a world-class coastal city, covering a stretch from Kailasagiri to Bhogapuram. It encompasses tourism development, infrastructure upgrades, a Convention Centre, and industrial township planning within the Visakha Economic Region.
What is the Convention Centre planned for Visakhapatnam?
CM Naidu directed officials to construct a Convention Centre on 303 acres of land belonging to the Greyhounds department in Visakhapatnam. The facility is part of the broader Bay City development push aimed at boosting tourism and business infrastructure.
What is the Visakha Economic Region (VER)?
The Visakha Economic Region is a multi-district development zone in Andhra Pradesh spanning nine districts from Srikakulam to East Godavari. CM Naidu has proposed a dedicated Project Monitoring Unit for VER and directed that the NITI Aayog report on the region be placed in the public domain for stakeholder input.
Which tourism sites are being developed under the Bay City plan?
Key sites include the Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes), Buddhist heritage sites, the Kailasagiri area as a spiritual and tourism destination, the Visakhapatnam Zoo, and Godavari-region attractions such as the Akhanda Godavari Project in Rajamahendravaram, Papikondalu, and the Polavaram Project.
Who attended the Visakha Economic Region review meeting?
The meeting was chaired by CM Chandrababu Naidu and attended by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, state ministers K. Atchannaidu and Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, MLAs, and Collectors from nine districts, along with senior officials including VER Convener Yuvaraj and Visakhapatnam District Collector Abhishikt Kishore.
