The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has submitted a revised draft master plan-2041 to the Andhra Pradesh government, outlining a roadmap for sustainable urban growth. The plan balances infrastructure expansion, economic development, and environmental conservation, prioritizing major connectivity projects such as Metro rail corridors, a suburban railway system, and a coastal corridor. It also identifies future growth engines including IT and data center hubs, Bhogapuram aerocity, and tourism initiatives.
Land Use Distribution
Under the proposed land-use pattern, 40.5% of the total area is earmarked for agriculture. Residential zones account for 17%, while mixed-use zones cover 8.5%. The protected-use zone, covering 15.9%, safeguards ecologically sensitive areas, forests, and water bodies. The brown zone (hills), covering 6.2%, preserves fragile hilly terrain with restricted development. Transportation zones occupy 5.7% to support mobility, and recreational zones cover 3.4% for parks and leisure. Industrial and commercial zones account for 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Public and semi-public zones (1.3%) accommodate social infrastructure, while public utilities (0.1%) support water, power, and waste management. Special area use zones (0.6%) cover areas with strategic significance.
Public Consultations and Revisions
VMRDA conducted two rounds of public consultations. The first notification in 2025 received 3,722 objections and suggestions, consolidated into 717 unique representations. After technical scrutiny, 427 were accepted. A second notification from February 9 to March 10, 2026, yielded 1,241 objections, consolidated into 339 cases, mostly about road alignments and land-use zoning.
VMRDA chairman Pranav Gopal stated that these measures will improve living standards across the metropolitan region, covering Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Vizianagaram districts. Once approved by the state government, the plan will be officially notified and implemented.
VMRDA commissioner N Tej Bharath submitted the revised proposals to municipal administration principal secretary S Suresh Kumar. The revision followed directions from the state government after the 2024 regime change, incorporating updated development trends and stakeholder inputs. The plan is designed for an estimated population of 66.3 lakh by 2041.
