The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority is fast working on preparing Master Plan-2041.
The Covid-19 pandemic had affected its progress last year. The existing Master Plan-2006 will expire in June 2021.
The consultant hired by VMRDA for the master plan preparation has recently submitted the draft plan and zonal development plans. The VMRDA is scrutinising both the plans.
Preparation of the master plan and zonal development plans will be completed by June, 2021 to replace the existing master plan.
Speaking to ToI, VMRDA metropolitan commissioner P Koteswara Rao said that the VMRDA is scrutinising the draft master plan and zonal development plans to check the minutest details before finalising them.
“The final draft master plan would be placed in the public domain for about a month. All the inputs received from the public during this one month would be referred to an expert committee to check their validity and incorporate the worthwhile in the master plan. We will complete all this process by June,” said Koteswara Rao.
Out of 13 deliverables, the consultant has so far submitted 10 deliverables. These include inception report, interim report, field survey report, existing situation assessment report, traffic survey, analysis report, consultation report, base map, vision & strategy formulation report, draft perspective plan, preliminary draft master plan & draft master plan, and zonal development plans.
The VMRDA is spread over two districts, including Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. This covers 36 mandals and 936 villages. Even though several mandals of Srikakulam were excluded from the VMRDA in 2019 to float Srikakulam Urban Development Authority, the VMRDA’s master plan also included these mandals from Srikakulam. VMRDA metropolitan commissioner P Koteswara Rao said that the master plan prepared for these mandals would be handed over to the SUDA.
The master plan outlines a development vision of the VMRDA and its planning framework for the future, including housing strategies, conservation zones, industrial development plans, transportation plan, environmental sustainable plan, public amenities and service plans, integration of erstwhile Vuda master plans, business plans, etc.