District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore on Tuesday said development projects worth ₹5,000 crore would be taken up in the Visakhapatnam Economic Region over the next three years.

Addressing the media at the Collectorate after the ‘Matsyakarula Sevalo’ programme, the Collector said Visakhapatnam had been selected as one of four cities in the country under the Centre’s City Economic Region initiative. He said the projects would be implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the NITI Aayog.

Mr. Kishore said 49 projects had already been identified for the region and additional projects suited to local requirements would also be taken up. He observed that the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport was expected to accelerate development in the Visakhapatnam region, particularly in areas such as Rushikonda and Endada. The proposed investments, he said, would contribute to the city’s integrated development in tune with public aspirations.

The Collector further stated that projects worth ₹200 crore for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation(GVMC) and ₹100 crore for the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority(VMRDA) had been proposed under disaster management initiatives. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) had already been forwarded to the Centre through the State government, he added.

Mr. Kishore said several retaining walls along the coastline had been damaged and reconstruction works, along with additional protective structures up to Rushikonda, would be taken up wherever necessary. He also said ₹1,500 crore had been sanctioned to the GVMC under the Urban Challenge Fund for three projects.