Greater Visakhapatnam civic body to extend in 2 districts

With the planned development of 26 districts, out of the current 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) will be expanded to two districts – Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli.

While the majority of the wards of the GVMC will be included in the existing Visakhapatnam district, Anakapalli town, and adjacent villages of Pendurthi and Sabbavaram mandals will come into the recently proposed Anakapalli district.

Anakapalli and some neighbouring villages were incorporated into the GVMC in 2013. The territory of the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), which is presently stretched in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram, will be extended to three districts. It is not clear how the creation of the new districts will impact the administrative and developmental affairs of the GVMC or the VMRDA.

Meanwhile, Pendurthi MLA A Adeepraj gave a representation, asking the authorities to continue Pendurthi in Visakhapatnam district instead of combining it in the recently planned Anakapalli district. As Pendurthi is situated very close to the city, several people are asking to include it in the Visakhapatnam district.

Only 10 mandals will be included in the Visakhapatnam district out of the present 43 mandals. Of these mandals, other than the Padmanabham mandal, the remaining nine districts are completely urbanised or semi-urbanised. In all, Visakhapatnam district will be divided into three different districts with certain tribal parts going into Alluri Sitarama Raju district.

According to the new district proposals, Gajuwaka, Pedagantyada, Gopalapatnam, Mulagada, and Seethammadhara will be under the Visakhapatnam revenue division.

A new revenue division, named Bheemunipatnam, will be made in Visakhapatnam district out of Anandapuram, Padmanabham, Visakhapatnam rural, Bheemunipatnam and Maharanipeta mandals. The new revenue division is likely to play a significant role in future development since a huge land bank is available in Anandapuram, Padmanabham and Bheemunipatnam mandals.

The main offices of executive capital, if it is branched out to Visakhapatnam, may come up in these mandals. Anakapalli district will be a mix of rural pockets, fast urbanising suburbs, and industrial areas.

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Also read: Smart development projects lined up for Visakhapatnam

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