VMRDA Issues Second Notification for Revised Master Plan in Andhra Pradesh
The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has recently issued a second notification concerning the draft revised master plan covering districts of Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam. This crucial step follows extensive public consultation and addresses numerous objections received during the initial notification phase in 2025.
Addressing Public Feedback and Objections
In response to the first notification issued in 2025, VMRDA received a substantial 3,722 objections and suggestions from various stakeholders. After careful examination, authorities identified 717 unique submissions that required detailed consideration. A significant portion of these objections focused on critical infrastructure and land use matters.
The breakdown of primary concerns reveals:
- 396 objections specifically addressed road alignment issues
- 209 objections focused on proposed land use modifications
Road alignment concerns encompassed diverse requests including deletion of proposed new roads, extension of existing thoroughfares, reduction in proposed road widths, and proposals for additional new road networks.
Land Use Policy and Processing Mechanism
Regarding land use modifications, objections primarily involved requests for conversion of agricultural land to mixed-use categories or restoration of proposed commercial zones to agricultural classification. However, VMRDA has established a clear policy position on this matter.
"Requests for land use changes will not be directly incorporated into the master plan at this stage," stated officials. Instead, such proposals will be processed through the existing application mechanism, requiring payment of prescribed fees. Affected landowners will receive formal notices specifying their respective land use classifications according to the revised plan.
Incorporated Changes and Next Steps
VMRDA Chairman Pranav Gopal revealed that 427 objections and suggestions from the first notification were accepted and incorporated before issuing the second notification. "A comprehensive review exercise was undertaken for this purpose," Gopal explained.
The current notification establishes a March 10 deadline for submitting fresh objections. "Objections to the second notification will be accepted until March 10, and fresh submissions will be processed on a daily basis to expedite the procedure," Gopal added.
Following the deadline, all new objections will be forwarded to the state-level technical committee by March 15 for evaluation. By the end of March, committee recommendations and remarks will be incorporated, after which the final master plan will be submitted to the state government. The government will then have 60 days to finalize the comprehensive development plan.
Transparency and Significant Revisions
Metropolitan Commissioner Tej Bharath emphasized that the second notification serves to educate the public about changes made to the original plan in response to first-round objections. "If we submit the plan directly to the government without issuing the second notification, they may not be aware of these changes," Bharath noted.
Several significant revisions have been incorporated into the master plan in recent months, including:
- Alignment of the proposed coastal corridor connecting Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram airport
- Proposals under the Visakhapatnam economic region plan
- New road proposals in previously unserved areas of Vizianagaram rural and Anakapalli regions
"The second notification has been issued to ensure transparency in the planning process," Bharath stated. "VMRDA aims to complete the receipt of objections within a month and proceed towards finalizing the master plan."
Final Opportunity for Public Participation
The second notification with its March 10 deadline represents the final opportunity for the public to submit suggestions and objections to the master plan. However, authorities have clarified that resubmission of previously filed objections is unnecessary, as they have already been considered under the first notification.
"Only fresh representations are expected," emphasized the metropolitan commissioner. "The Authority anticipates a limited number of new objections as only 717 unique objections were received during the several months period of the first notification in 2025."
This systematic approach to urban planning demonstrates VMRDA's commitment to inclusive development while maintaining procedural efficiency in creating a comprehensive master plan for the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region.
