VIZAG matters - Sohan Hatangadi's Blog

VUDA'S BUDGET for this year appeared in the media last week. So many crores being spent on future projects. Not even small change for our valuable heritage buildings. Every one of our historical buildings is crumbling. For years our administration have made promises that they will take up repairs but NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS!!! Every glowing report in the papers is talking of the future. No one asks what happened to the hundreds of promises made every year. Meanwhile our histo ry becomes dust. In front of our eyes. I have dozens of stories of neglect and supreme apathy. On one hand we talk of being smart and on the other hand we are dumb enough to allow our history to vanish. WORLD HERITAGE DAY IS ON 18 APRIL 2018. This is a good time for Vizagites to raise their voices. And for our media to go beyond just reporting bulletins and ask the questions that matter. IF YOU CARE, PLEASE SHARE

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...

Sustainable tourism a tool for development this year's theme of World Tourism Day appears to have been buried under an avalanche of exciting  tourism EVENTS coming to Vizag from 27th Sep to 2nd Oct.  You know how "creative" we are, We will have Rock Night, Retro Night, Melody Night and glitzy Bollywood performers entertaining the entertainment starved populace of Vizag. These  programmes will be held on our one and only BEACH ROAD already bursting with local crowds. So please expect the blasting blare of speakers and "mike testing halla...halla...halla" late into the night every night on the beach with the local boys hanging around. And the MC yelling "GOOD EVENING VIZAGGGGGG!" While the whole world takes up frivolous issues like Sustainable Tourism we have decided to be  intellectually fresh and different ... we  have decided to have SONG & DANCE Not to forget "new" programmes like Children's painting contest,  elocutio...

Despite being among the first to enter the Smart City race Vizag is one of the lowest spenders so far. Talk and action are miles apart. To read more, catch up the below link on business world Smart Cities: The Sad State Of Affairs