Urban Growth Push: VMRDA To Do 1,941-Acre Land Pooling For Vizag Region
As per GO Ms146 dated July 30, the urban development department has authorised the VMRDA to implement a land pooling scheme covering 1,941.19 acres.
Visakhapatnam:Administrative nod has been given to a land pooling initiative to accelerate planned urban development across Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Anakapalle districts.
As per GO Ms146 dated July 30, the urban development department has authorised the VMRDA to implement a land pooling scheme covering 1,941.19 acres. This move complements NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub strategy, which positions Visakhapatnam as the Bay City or Miami of the East.
Under the Visakhapatnam Economic Region initiative, which spans nine districts, the regional economy is projected to expand from $54 billion to $135 billion by 2032. Central to this vision are two brownfield urban expansions: Vizag 2.0 (210 sqkm) and Vizag Bay City (40 sqkm), planned to absorb future growth sustainably.
Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in this urban transformation.
The Visakhapatnam Metro Rail, with its 77-km network under Phases 1 and 2, is scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2030. It will connect key corridors, including the Bhogapuram International Airport and upcoming IT zones. Estimated investments across metro, roads, and allied development are pegged between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 crore.
The LPS operates under VMRDA’s 2016 guidelines and follows a non-debt model: landowners pool land, receive developed plots in return, and VMRDA monetises remaining parcels to fund infrastructure.
This collaborative approach sidesteps high acquisition costs while enabling faster urbanisation.District-wise, 1,132.09 acres are planned for Visakhapatnam, followed by 783.69 acres for Anakapalle and 25.41 acres for Vizianagaram. The scheme also includes regularising encroached lands eligible under GO Ms-571 and Act 30 of 2013, especially along strategic corridors like the Anakapalle–Bhogapuram highway. Revenue divisional officers will serve as implementation authorities.
An example of past pooling efforts is the Ozone Valley project near Anakapalle.
In Cherlopalli Khanda, 41.287 acres were pooled in 2007 under GPA agreements, with farmers promised 1,800 sq yards per acre. Though approved in 2016, delays persisted. GO Ms-145, issued on July 30, 2025, now settles the issue: farmers will get 1,600 sq-yards for residential and 200 sq-yards for commercial use per acre. For an additional 15.90 acres without prior consent, new approvals have been obtained, allotting 1,000 sq-yards of residential space and 200 sq-yards of commercial space per acre.
Metropolitan commissioner KS Vishwanathan stated that the resolution ensures that the farmers receive better returns while VMRDA gains land for future projects.