Visakhapatnam Smart City receives 61 project approvals worth Rs 9.42 bn

10 Aug 2023 CW Team

Visakhapatnam, one of the quadrilateral cities in Andhra Pradesh, was chosen for the Smart Cities Mission following a competition held from 2015 to 2018. Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore, provided this information in response to a query raised by BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao during a session in the Rajya Sabha.

Kishore disclosed that the city received approvals for 61 projects amounting to Rs 9.42 billion. Among these, 36 projects have already been successfully completed, utilising Rs 452.25 crore. He highlighted that the execution of projects under the Smart Cities Mission is carried out through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), jointly owned by the respective State governments and local urban bodies. Any complaints received are directed to the State governments for necessary actions. Additionally, Kishore mentioned that the Union Ministry occasionally conducts third-party evaluations in certain cases.

Furthermore, GVL Narasimha Rao sought details about the funding allocated for the development and renovation of the VMRDA (Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority) Park and other associated projects.

Spanning across 33 acres, the VMRDA Park is divided into three zones and is being transformed into a Smart Park catering to all age groups. Kishore elaborated that the park will feature various recreational elements such as nature trails, cycling tracks, landscaping with herbal flora, a dedicated multi-purpose lawn with a yoga circle, food courts, separate sports arenas for badminton, tennis, and basketball, a children's play area, an outdoor gym zone, boating facilities, and expanded parking provisions. As of July 31, a total of Rs 307.6 million has been invested in the project.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Oct 2025

Daikin Boosts Haryana’s Innovation Push with Rs 10 billion R&D Plan

Japanese multinational Daikin Industries has committed an investment of Rs 10 billion to set up a new research and development centre in Haryana. The proposed facility will focus on advanced technologies and sustainable industrial solutions, marking a significant boost to the state’s innovation and industrial ecosystem. The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Osaka, Japan, during a visit by a Haryana government delegation held from October 6 to 8. The MoU was signed by Amit Kumar Agrawal, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, ..

Lloyds Metals to Build Rs 250 billion Steel Plant in Gadchiroli

Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL) has announced an investment of Rs 250 billion aimed at transforming Gadchiroli in Maharashtra from a region once associated with the red corridor into a key industrial and growth hub. The company’s plans are centred on establishing an integrated steel production ecosystem, which will contribute significantly to regional development and employment. As part of its expansion strategy, LMEL is setting up a 4.5-million-tonne blast furnace in Gadchiroli, scheduled for completion by 2027–28, along with another 1.2-million-tonne facility in Chandrapur by 2029..

UPI Crosses 500 Million Users, Fuels MSME and Digital Growth

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved a new milestone, surpassing 500 million consumers and 65 million merchants across India. The platform, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has expanded its reach to nearly 99 percent of the country’s pin codes, underlining its deep penetration into both urban and rural markets. According to a report by NPCI and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) launched during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, UPI has evolved from being a digital payments mechanism into a key enabler of financial inclusion and small business growth. I..