In a major move to harness a wave of technology investments, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to comprehensively update the master plan for the Visakhapatnam region. The revision aims to strategically accommodate the anticipated rapid expansion of the Information Technology (IT), IT-enabled Services (ITES), data centre, and Global Capability Centre (GCC) sectors across several districts.
Investment Wave Triggers Planning Overhaul
This decision follows a series of high-profile investment commitments by global and domestic IT giants in recent months, with more proposals reportedly in the pipeline. The scale of these announcements has fundamentally altered the region's economic trajectory.
Key investments include Google's data centre, a Reliance joint venture facility, and Sify's data centre in Visakhapatnam which is set to be leased by Meta. Furthermore, companies like Accenture, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Cognizant have also announced significant plans for the region. This influx has made it imperative to align physical planning with the new economic reality, directly following the NITI Aayog vision document for Visakhapatnam.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Assessment on the Cards
The updated master plan will conduct a thorough evaluation of how prepared Visakhapatnam city and its neighbouring districts—collectively known as the Visakhapatnam economic growth region—are to meet future demands. The exercise will involve a detailed review of critical urban systems:
- Water supply and drainage networks
- Electricity grid and power reliability
- Road connectivity and regional transport
- Solid waste management frameworks
- Digital infrastructure and connectivity
The plan will specifically evaluate the capacity of existing systems and identify necessary upgrades to support high-demand facilities like data centres, which require uninterrupted power, large water volumes, and advanced digital links.
Creating Sustainable, Self-Sufficient Townships
While the Perspective Plan-2051 and Master Plan-2041 for the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region exist, the evolving investment landscape necessitates a stronger, updated framework. As part of this, large land parcels measuring approximately 20,000 to 30,000 acres in and around the city have been proposed for IT/ITES and allied developments.
The revised plan aims to integrate these new growth zones in a planned and sustainable manner. The identified land will be classified into specific clusters:
- IT corridors and GCC hubs
- Dedicated data centre parks
- Ancillary support and medtech zones
- Mixed-use development nodes
These zones are envisioned as integrated, self-sufficient townships equipped with adequate housing, social amenities, open spaces, and robust physical and digital infrastructure. A key focus will be ensuring seamless connectivity between the new clusters, the existing city, and regional transport networks like ports and airports.
The government plans to appoint a consultant to prepare the updated master plan using a data-driven and participatory process. The consultant will review existing plans, map ongoing projects like IT parks and logistics hubs, and assess land suitability and environmental factors.
Aligned with NITI Aayog's regional development approach, the update will focus on planning beyond city limits, fostering economic clusters, improving regional connectivity, and ensuring balanced urban-rural growth. Sustainability and resilience will be central pillars, emphasising renewable energy, climate-adaptive design, and green-blue infrastructure. The plan will also be backed by a financial strategy exploring public-private partnerships and land monetisation for implementation.
