The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has decided to establish its own nursery in Visakhapatnam. The facility will be developed on approximately five acres of land in the Mudarsarlova area. This initiative follows a visit by a GVMC team to areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council about a month ago to study best practices in urban greenery management. Based on these learnings, the corporation has resolved to create its own nursery to enhance plant propagation and management.
Project Details and Committee Formation
Planting material and other resources for the nursery will be sourced through the Andhra Pradesh Green Beautification Corporation. A dedicated committee has been formed to oversee the project, ensuring proper implementation and management. Although GVMC previously operated a nursery in the Mudarsarlova area, it functioned primarily as a plant storage facility rather than a centre for propagation, as most plants were procured from external agencies. The site has since been converted into a children's park.
Citywide Greenery Drive
GVMC has identified nearly 75 major stretches across Visakhapatnam where gaps in greenery exist. This initiative builds on earlier horticulture works carried out on 26 stretches during the 2025 CII Summit and other recent events, while addressing the remaining significant gaps. According to estimates, maintenance works across all city stretches would cost approximately Rs 11 crore, while gap-filling works may cost around Rs 4 crore. The corporation is preparing to roll out this action plan before the onset of the monsoon.
Commissioner's Statement
GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg stated that the corporation is moving ahead with a comprehensive plan to beautify Visakhapatnam in a green and sustainable manner, following directions from chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. "As part of this effort, nearly 75 stretches have been identified for a citywide greenery and beautification drive. Plantation activities will be carried out in green belts and medians, alongside regular maintenance work. A dedicated Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries (PLC) wing has been created to oversee the initiative, which will directly report to me," said the commissioner.
"The corporation plans to standardise maintenance practices across these stretches, focusing on key activities such as trimming, watering, pruning, hedging and waste clearance. Each stretch will be managed by a joint team comprising an assistant engineer and a horticulture officer to ensure consistent upkeep. GVMC has prepared a detailed action plan to roll out these works before the onset of the monsoon, with a focus on reviving greenery and beautification through sustained maintenance, gap filling and plantation works," Garg added.
Past Initiatives and Future Plans
In the past, GVMC has undertaken aerial seed ball dispersal using helicopters in collaboration with other government agencies. As Visakhapatnam is characterised by several hills interspersed within residential areas, such efforts were considered an effective way to promote vegetation growth in otherwise inaccessible terrain. The drives also supported ecological restoration and helped improve the overall environmental resilience. The new nursery and comprehensive greenery plan aim to further enhance the city's green cover and sustainability.
