GVMC Doubles Development Outlay, Rolls Out 1,667 Works for 2025–26

 Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has reported a sharp increase in development spending, with plans to undertake 1,667 projects during the 2025–26 financial year at an estimated cost of ₹657.39 crore. Of these, 486 works worth ₹82.75 crore have already been completed, while the remaining projects are at various stages of implementation.

In the previous financial year, 2024–25, the GVMC initiated 1,628 projects with a total outlay of ₹338.92 crore and completed 1,303 works valued at ₹221.22 crore.

Presenting the progress report, mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao highlighted the GVMC’s focus on strengthening infrastructure, implementing welfare schemes and improving grievance redressal mechanisms. He extended New Year and Sankranti greetings to the citizens and underlined the collective efforts of the civic body and its 97 ward corporators in driving the city’s development.

A major administrative reorganisation will come into effect on January 1, with the GVMC expanding its eight zones to ten. The zones will be Bheemunipatnam, Madhurawada, East, North, South, West, Pendurthi, Gajuwaka, Aganampudi and Anakapalli.

Visakhapatnam gained international attention in June 2025 after hosting the 11th International Day of Yoga, titled “Yogandhra”, under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”. More than three lakh participants gathered at RK Beach, making it one of the largest yoga events held globally. In November, the GVMC played a key role in the success of the Partnership Summit 2025 by executing 240 beautification works worth ₹64.88 crore across the city.

Looking ahead, the GVMC has proposed the development of 88.35 km of roads under the PPP-HAM model at a cost of ₹306.95 crore. An additional ₹71 crore has been earmarked for four major roads to improve connectivity to the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport.

Urban management initiatives included “Operation Lungs”, which reclaimed 17 properties and secured 330 open spaces, and “Operation Lungs 2.0”, under which 6,240 illegal encroachments were removed. The civic body also introduced AI-based traffic management systems, conducted food safety campaigns and intensified enforcement against single-use plastics.

On the social welfare front, the GVMC developed smart street vending markets at a cost of ₹14 crore and constructed working women’s hostels under the SASCI scheme with an investment of ₹172 crore. Environmental sustainability efforts were supported by Finance Commission grants of ₹129.25 crore, while major water supply projects — including the ADB-funded 24x7 scheme worth ₹447.62 crore — have achieved 75 per cent completion.

The mayor said the GVMC’s focus in 2026 would be on modern infrastructure, sustainable growth and citizen-friendly governance.