Hyderabad: Out of 33 cities and towns Of 33 cities and towns in Seemandhra, Chittoor and Madanapalle have recorded the highest level of urban growth more than Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. Certain towns recorded negative urban growth, including those in Guntur district.
Experts of Acharya Nagarjuna University presented ‘Urban Development in AP prospects for future growth’ to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. It revealed that out of 33 urban agglomerations Chittoor recorded 74 per cent growth and Madanapally 67 per cent in the past 10 years. The two are followed by Vijayawada with 60.2 per cent and Tirupati recording 51.54 per cent. Madanapalle with its proximity to Bengaluru and being a hill station recorded a good growth rate, while Tirupati being a pilgrim centre made the mark.
Experts warned that the urban burden has to be tackled properly and civic agencies have to work to catch up with rapid urbanisation. Prof. M. Koteswara Rao of the department of economics in ANU said, “Negative growth is observed in Chialakaluripeta, Tadipatrhi, Kavali and Tadepalligudem. A shift in economic activities especially the concentration of services in urban areas resulted in huge migration from rural areas to cities and towns,”
Experts are of the opinion that the AP government should have a holistic urban planning and focus on integrated development of urban infrastructure and services.
The report stresses on special efforts to be initiated in cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Rajahmundry and Kurnool, which have many slums.
