VIZAG matters - Sohan Hatangadi's Blog

The proposed construction of a new Rs. 700 crore convention centre at the APIIC grounds opposite Harbour Park near RK beach has set alarm bells ringing for many Vizagites. Especially, for those living in the vicinity. It is true that Vizag does not have a large conference Center and adequate rooms to host a large conference.  Any city that  aspires to be a MICE destination must have adequate purpose-built space for hosting large events. So when the space became available near the beach it was natural for the government to grab the opportunity to build it here. But it seems to be a grave mistake. The proposal is for this 14 acre land is to have 5,000 seat conference halls, 200 room hotel, multiplex theaters and a shopping mall.  There are only two roads to access the complex.  The harbor park road on the West and the Beach road on the East. There is one small unused narrow road adjacent to the Pandurangaswamy temple. The beach road is narrow and crow...

Our Town Hall in VIZAG, India was built in 1904 and has witnessed the high points of Vizag's social, cultural and literary events. During India's freedom movement our town hall has played a central role in hosting important meetings. Today it lies in dilapidated condition. Thankfully our Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has taken the first baby steps in preventing further deterioration by cancelling the lease of the  premises to a person who was renting it for weddings. It had become a filthy and stinking hell hole. Now it is not dirty inside but it is in a rundown condition. Our corporation has good intentions to revive it but as in several cases intent and implementation is miles apart. Despite many assurances from our Corporation, the town hall continues to be a neglected monument of Vizag's illustrious past. No one knows why it is not being done. No will? No management skills? No money? We have money to blow up on transient events on the beac...

Who’s working for Vizag? TOI dated 12 September 2016 In the olden days when a shopkeeper who singly looking after his shop, wanted to go out for a bite he generally put out a board reading “CLOSED FOR LUNCH”. Old timers will remember waiting at the doctor’s clinic where a small board read “DOCTOR IS OUT, WILL RETURN AT …” Underneath was a dummy clock, the hands of which could be rotated, that gave the time when the doctor was expected back. Until then we just sat in the waiting room thumbing through old editions of the Illustrated Weekly. Lately we Vizagites are beginning to get a funny feeling that we are constantly in waiting. We are beginning to wonder if there is anyone really looking after our city. Meeting cancelled Officials in Vizag are all busy doing something else. Here is how it works. The head honcho in Hyderabad calls for a meeting. He asks the boss administrator in the state to get him some information. The boss in turn asks the principal secretary to ge...

Who killed the Bora caves?     The buzz over Bora Over the last few days there is quite a buzz about promoting even more tourism in and around Bora and Araku. This news is scary. Why? You ask. Well, a visit to Bora Caves illustrates the huge adverse impact of tourism on the area. Gone in a blink In the early 1970’s I have visited the caves, long before it was made into a “picnic spot” and spent time admiring its imposing beauty.  Now, this important and sensitive geological formation has been made into an amusement park, with visitors clambering all over the formations and thousands carving their graffiti on the cave walls.  Guides The freelance tribal guides do not bother about the vandalism. They  are poorly trained and mope around, completely demoralized by their APTDC bosses.  Gone in a flash What took millions of years to form has been destroyed in a mere 10 years ... a blink in geological time. Formations, what f...

Tourism for Vizag   “This city is so beautiful” the wise men said "The news of its charms, we must spread" The IAS boss of the town announced “someday… Vizag will be just like Mumbai” We must get the crowds here they declared For this a tourist hub must be prepared So they held a big tourist fair And officials came from everywhere "Infrastructure is required!" they stated And a very pretty picture they painted Businessmen licking their lips Looked forward to tourists in planes, trains and ships The leaders of Industry, And Vizag’s upper gentry, The rich and the famous Talked of structures quite wondrous "This CRZ laws must go" they thundered "Our environmentalists have all blundered" We need more beach resorts in our city And let's get rid of the damn fishing community The air travellers association Sold the benefits of increased av...

Click on this link to see what came in the press:   WE WILL BE LIKE LIKE MUMBAI HE SAID : Our youthful collector also said that Vizag will become like  Mumbai  in 10 Years. All Vizagites must be jumping up and down with joy to hear such good news! Wow - imagine 2022 - Bomb blasts, local trains, slums, Bollywood, bar brawls, smog, and malls and gangsters, single bedroom apartments for Rs. 2 Crores and a really cool 35% voter turnout! Vizag wont be the quiet peaceful BORING place any more.  I wonder who gave our collector the impression that we want Vizag to be like Mumbai - if we find that adviser we must really thank him properly WE WILL BE A TOURIST DESTINATION WE MUST HAVE A TOURISM FAIR THEY SAID Tourism for Vizag   “This city is so beautiful” the wise men said "The news of its charms, we must spread" The IAS boss of the town announced “someday… Vizag will be just like Mumbai” We must get the crowds here the...