With a series of ongoing smart projects, Visakhapatnam is rising in the rank of cities that have emerged as finest in the country. The citys projects like city surveillance, pollution monitoring, smart street, command and communications centre are meant to ensure better satisfaction level of citizens, says Pravin Kumar, Collector and District Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
Q Andhra Pradesh is known for delivering good governance through e-Governance. How Visakhapatnam fairs with regard to delivering better citizen services?
Andhra Pradesh is the leader in e-Governance initiatives in India. e-Pragati platform is one such initiative which is unique in terms of any such global initiatives. Each activity related to governance is monitored by Real Time Governance (RTG) society and Command Control Centre (CCC) in Amaravati.
Use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in governance is to improve service delivery and transparency. Like ration or pension distribution are biometric enabled. Employees and students attendance is being marked on real time basis.
Real time weather forecast, groundwater level measurement etc, are helping us to monitor environmental issues on real time. Monitoring of health and nutrition activities in far off places is conducted using technology.
Parishkara Vedika 1100 Call Centre is a scheme to facilitate citizens in raising various issues before the direct notice of Chief Minister. All the services i.e. approvals of building plan, death certificates etc are today available online. These can be availed without any human interface.
Q Visakhapatnam is all set for urban transformation through Smart City Mission. What is the future course of action?
Even before smart city mission, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) and Chief Ministers vision was to develop urban infrastructure and use of technology at par with the best in the world. Projects like city surveillance, pollution monitoring, smart-street, command and communication centres are meant to ensure a better satisfactory experience for citizens.
Today, we are one of the cleanest and greenest cities of India. Besides, beach front developments, international convention centre, sport city projects etc. will be done at the earliest.
Q What are the focus development areas in Visakhapatnam?
The focus areas include industrial growth including pharma and other industries in three different clusters of the District. Health City, Sports City and making the District the best in terms of ease of doing business are some of the priority areas.
Other focus areas include marine and aquaculture productivity. Also, resolving all kinds of land issues and completing International Convention Centre figure top in the priority chart.
There are Smart City Projects, Urban Development Projects like Master Plan Road and World Bank projects like Beach Front development, road works. Also, my priority is to improve health and education and road/telecom connect in tribal areas.
Q The Jewel of the East Coast is set for a new identity — AP MedTech Zone and Medical Tourism Hub. How will these two initiatives help Vizag in getting highlighted as a global investment hub?
Med-tech zone will be a world class facility for the production of healthcare devices.
Q How is the District administration ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare services?
Andhra is a leader in health services. Its duly bringing in service provider model. Almost 25 such services are being provided. NTR Vaidya Seva and Health for All initiatives have been undertaken to achieve universal healthcare coverage goal. Infrastructure is being strengthened in seven teaching hospitals to provide best healthcare facility to the people of the State. To promote health tourism, a Health City is to be established in the heart of the city.
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