Visakhapatnam :

The government would develop Vizag as the financial capital of the state, despite the challenges in front of it, Andhra Pradesh panchayat raj minister Ayyanna Patrudu told mediapersons here on Wednesday on his first visit to the city after being inducted into the Naidu cabinet.

Ayyanna Patrudu, who was inducted into cabinet for the fifth time, gave a call to industrialists to invest in Andhra Pradesh as the state would get uninterrupted power as has been assured by the central government. He demanded that the Union government extend the special status for another five years in addition to the promised five years.

The minister said that they would strive to set up a tribal university between Vizianagaram and Visakha for the convenience for the four districts in the north Andhra region and also promised to make an effort to ensure that Vizag becomes a pollution-free city.

Ayyanna Patrudu expressed confidence about getting a sanction of Rs 60 crore to start the functioning of Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) with a 200-bed facility. Other focus areas included making NH-16, which passes through the city a six-lane road with flyovers wherever needed.

He said the government will also aim to utilize the long coastline of Andhra Pradesh by proposing the establishment of 12 minor ports.

Responding to the resignation of Dadi Veerabadra Rao of the YSR Congress, Patrudu said anybody can join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) if they wish to serve the party. Moreover, the former TDP minister Dadi is an ardent fan of NTR and the party leaders will not have a problem working with him, he said.

Earlier, Ayyanna Patrudu visited the Simhachalam temple and offered prayers to Lord Varaha Lakshminarasimha Swamy.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / June 12th, 2014