Andhra CM Naidu Unveils Vision To Turn 'Visakha Economic Region' Into $120 Billion Growth Powerhouse By 2032

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has unveiled an ambitious vision to transform Visakhapatnam into the "Mumbai of the South" within the next seven years.

Central to this vision is the development of the Visakha Economic Region—spanning eight coastal districts with the goal of building a $120 billion economy by 2032, reported The Statesman.

During a high-level meeting with NITI Aayog officials, Naidu directed the identification of one lakh acres across the 36,000 sq km zone, which currently accounts for a $49 billion GDP and a population of 15.5 million with eight districts —Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR), and Manyam.

The roadmap projects the creation of 20 to 24 lakh jobs and envisages the region as Andhra Pradesh’s primary economic engine.

Key initiatives include the development of six ports, seven industrial nodes, 17 major agri-belts, 12 tourism hubs, and six service centres.

“The coast is a treasure trove—we must leverage it fully,” Naidu remarked, announcing new beach roads from Mulapeta to Kakinada via Visakhapatnam, linked to the national highway grid.

A total of 41 priority projects have been identified, guided by seven growth drivers: ports, IT, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, urban development, and infrastructure.

The plan includes 7.5 lakh homes, 10,000 hotel rooms, 80 million sq ft of office space, and 60 million sq ft of warehousing.

Visakhapatnam is also being positioned as a steel and shipbuilding hub, with participation from India’s leading steel firms.

On the sustainability front, Naidu called for EV adoption and investment in green hydrogen, solar, wind, and pumped hydro energy.

“Andhra Pradesh has abundant resources to support this vision. I seek NITI Aayog’s support to realise it,” he added.

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