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13 May 2026
• Patna Municipal Corporation has provided nearly INR 40 lakh as rebate to around 35,948 property taxpayers for making early payments in the current financial year.
• The civic body collected close to INR 11 crore in property tax during the initial weeks of the financial year through the rebate scheme.
• A 5% rebate on the principal tax amount is being offered for lump-sum payments made before June 30 under the Bihar Municipal Property Tax Rules, 2013.
• Nearly 60% of taxpayers used online payment methods, including UPI platforms and the municipal portal, showing rising digital adoption.
• PMC has also extended counter timings and started awareness drives as it aims to improve collections and reduce pending dues across city zones.Read more
08 May 2026
The Centre has cleared the launch of the South Coast Railway Zone, with operations scheduled from June 1 and headquarters in Visakhapatnam. The move fulfills a long-pending demand of Andhra Pradesh and is expected to improve railway administration, connectivity, and freight movement. Key changes include restructuring of the Waltair division and coordination with the Rayagada division. The new zone is likely to support industrial growth in North Andhra, enhance logistics efficiency, and create employment opportunities while strengthening overall railway infrastructure in the region.Read more
01 May 2026
Google has started construction of its USD 15 billion AI data centre hub in Visakhapatnam, marking one of the largest foreign investments in India’s digital infrastructure. The project will be developed across multiple campuses with an initial capacity of around 1 gigawatt, scalable further. Built in partnership with AdaniConneX and Airtel’s Nxtra, the hub aims to strengthen India’s cloud and AI ecosystem. It is also expected to support local infrastructure, generate employment, and position Andhra Pradesh as a key destination for large-scale data centre developments.Read more
26 Apr 2026
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has initiated a comprehensive survey covering 66 slums across Visakhapatnam to assess housing conditions, infrastructure gaps, and redevelopment potential. The exercise forms part of a broader urban transformation strategy aligned with the Visakhapatnam Economic Region plan. Based on survey outcomes, slums will be categorised for either denotification or redevelopment under a public-private partnership model. Initial projects at Velampeta and Indira Nagar have already been identified, with redevelopment proposals involving multi-storey housing. The initiative also aims to institutionalise a Slum Rehabilitation Authority to streamline execution, financing, and long-term urban planning.Read more
24 Apr 2026
The Patna Metro depot near the New ISBT at Bairiya is approaching completion, marking a key milestone in the city’s urban transport infrastructure rollout. Spread across over 30 hectares, the facility will function as the primary operations and maintenance hub for the metro network. The depot will support train stabling, repair, testing and control functions for the priority corridor linking Patna Junction to ISBT. Its completion aligns with ongoing progress across the metro project, where sections are already operational and further expansion is underway. The development is expected to strengthen system readiness and improve execution timelines for future phases.Read more
17 Apr 2026
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a comprehensive citywide property survey to address revenue leakages and identify discrepancies in property records. The exercise, undertaken in the past week, aims to bridge the gap between over five lakh electricity connections and only around 3.06 lakh registered properties. The survey will involve door-to-door verification, geo-tagging, and cross-checking of self-assessed data to detect unregistered holdings and misuse of residential properties for commercial purposes. The move follows directions from the urban development and housing department and aligns with a Supreme Court mandate requiring states to report unauthorised land-use changes. The initiative is expected to strengthen property tax collection, improve compliance, and enhance municipal financial capacity for urban infrastructure.Read more
14 Apr 2026
Google has obtained a power distribution (discom) licence for its proposed 1 GW hyperscale data centre hub in Visakhapatnam, marking a key regulatory milestone for the USD 15 billion (approx. INR 1.25 lakh crore) investment. Approved by the Andhra Pradesh cabinet in the past week, the licence allows the company to directly procure and distribute electricity for its operations, a first for a private entity in the state. The project, spread across multiple sites in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts, is positioned as India's largest single foreign direct investment. Construction is expected to commence later this month. The move is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted power supply, improving cost efficiencies, and enabling integration of renewable energy sources for large-scale data infrastructure.Read more
08 Apr 2026
Patna Municipal Corporation reported a record property tax collection of INR 125 crore in FY 2025-26, crossing its target and showing steady growth over previous years. The increase was supported by stricter enforcement, a one-time settlement scheme with penalty waivers, and expansion of the tax base through surveys. Around 2.45 lakh properties were covered under tax collection, improving compliance. The civic body also strengthened monitoring and recovery efforts, while total municipal revenue stood at nearly INR 250 crore from multiple sources.Read more
07 Apr 2026
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation recorded its highest-ever property and vacant land tax collection of around INR 620 crore in FY 2025-26, exceeding its target of INR 600 crore. The growth of about 22 per cent over the previous year was supported by new property assessments, revision of high-value properties, and improved recovery efforts. Incentives such as early payment rebates and interest waivers also boosted collections. Strong performance during key months and better administrative monitoring helped the civic body maintain steady revenue throughout the year.Read more
31 Mar 2026
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has recorded property tax collections exceeding INR 510 crore for the ongoing financial year, surpassing the previous year's total of INR 500 crore with days remaining in the fiscal cycle. The civic body is aiming to reach INR 600 crore by the end of the month, supported by a state government initiative offering a 50% interest waiver on pending dues. Collection efforts have been driven by recovery of arrears, vacant land tax assessments and payments from large private entities. The milestone highlights improved revenue mobilisation by the municipal authority, which is responsible for urban governance and infrastructure services in Visakhapatnam.Read more
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20 Mar 2026
The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has initiated the Vizag Bay City coastal project, aiming to transform a 40 sq km stretch between Kailasagiri and Bheemunipatnam into a vibrant mixed use waterfront destination. The plan focuses on coastal tourism, global business ecosystems, and premium residential development. It will feature scenic corridors, heritage restoration, Blue Flag beaches, water sports, adventure parks, innovation districts, and luxury residences. By FY2032, the project aims to attract about 1.5 million high-value visitors annually, supporting regional economic growth and positioning Visakhapatnam as a global coastal city.Read more
18 Mar 2026
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) successfully recovered nearly INR 1 crore in property taxes from high-value defaulters in just two days through a concentrated enforcement drive. A six-member field team visited multiple city wards targeting property owners with dues exceeding INR 50,000. Measures included freezing bank accounts, prohibiting property sales, and seizing properties for noncompliance. Defaulters were notified via SMS and offered a one-time settlement scheme with interest and penalty waivers until the end of the month. The drive reflects PMC's continued focus on strengthening revenue collection and ensuring civic financial discipline.Read more
16 Mar 2026
Visakhapatnam Port Authority has achieved a milestone, handling over 85 million tonnes of cargo in 345 days, the highest in its 92-year history. The port aims to reach 90 million tonnes this year and 100 million tonnes in 2026-27, reflecting strong operational growth. Alongside cargo achievements, the VPA has launched a major three-year dredging and beach nourishment project worth nearly INR 83 crore to support coastline conservation and prevent erosion at key areas, including RK Beach, in coordination with the state government.Read more
12 Mar 2026
Construction activity has commenced on the Patna Water Metro project with the development of the first electric ferry charging station at Gandhi Ghat along the Ganga riverfront. The facility will support battery-powered vessels planned for the project's initial 10.5 km corridor connecting Digha Ghat and Kangan Ghat through several intermediate riverfront stops. The urban water transport initiative, estimated to cost about INR 908 crore, is being implemented jointly by the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Bihar government with technical support from Cochin Shipyard. Charging infrastructure at Gandhi Ghat will form a key operational node for electric ferries, with additional charging facilities planned at other terminals as the corridor develops. Authorities expect the system to introduce an alternative mode of commuting across Patna's riverfront while supporting cleaner mobility and reducing pressure on congested road corridors in the city.Read more
08 Mar 2026
The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has directed officials to speed up several important road widening works across the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region to strengthen connectivity and ease traffic movement. Metropolitan Commissioner N. Tej Bharath reviewed the progress of multiple projects including the Adavivaram Shonthyam, Veppagunta Pinagadi, and Gambheeram Nerellavalasa Tallavalasa road stretches. During the inspection, officials were instructed to accelerate land acquisition, clear utility obstacles such as electrical poles, and ensure timely compensation or Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates for affected landowners. The projects are part of broader infrastructure efforts aimed at improving urban mobility as the city continues to expand.Read more
05 Mar 2026
Rising land prices and limited availability of well-located plots are reshaping Visakhapatnam's housing market, driving a shift toward 40-50 storey residential complexes. Developers are favoring high-rise projects to distribute steep land acquisition costs across more units, lowering per square-foot prices and offering enhanced amenities such as gyms, pools, and clubhouses. Demand remains strong due to growth in IT and allied sectors, with micro-markets like Madhurawada Kapuluppada, Anandapuram Kommadi, Bhogapuram Bheemili, and Yendada Rushikonda seeing increased activity. Vertical housing also improves land-use efficiency and aligns with modern buyer expectations.Read more
03 Mar 2026
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has commenced preparation of zone-wise development plans (ZDPs) following a recent administrative reorganisation that expanded its urban jurisdiction. Under the new approach, the city's territory has been divided into multiple zones, each with tailored planning strategies to address growth management, infrastructure provisioning and land-use priorities. GVMC officials said the exercise aims to rationalise development norms, improve civic service delivery and integrate peri-urban areas into a coordinated city planning framework. The planning process will involve extensive ground surveys, stakeholder consultations and data collection to inform draft ZDPs, which are expected to guide future development, zoning regulations, transportation networks and infrastructure investments. City planners noted that structured zone-wise planning aligned with the city's expanded geography will be critical to sustainable urban growth and improved quality of life in Visakhapatnam's evolving metropolitan region.Read more
01 Mar 2026
Patna will soon have Bihar's largest sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 400 million litres per day (MLD) to reduce untreated discharge into the Ganga. The project follows directions issued during a recent Namami Gange review meeting in Delhi. The Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (Buidco) has begun site surveys between Danapur and Patna City. The plant will connect major drains across the city and may be built as one 400 MLD unit or two 200 MLD units. The move is part of Bihar's broader plan to expand sewage treatment capacity across Ganga towns.Read more
25 Feb 2026
The Andhra Pradesh government has successfully completed land acquisition for a major advanced data centre project linked to Google in the Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli region, marking a significant step forward for large-scale technology infrastructure investment in South India. A total of about 601.4 acres has now been cleared and allotted through the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, up from an earlier approved 480 acres, to the notified developer for construction of data centre campuses. The expanded land parcel is expected to support part of the company's multi-billion-dollar investment one of the largest AI and hyperscale data centre initiatives in the country and will attract further economic activity and employment to the region. The allocation covers multiple sites and strengthens Visakhapatnam's position as a priority destination for global digital infrastructure projects.Read more
22 Feb 2026
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat has sought central government support for a large-scale and planned redevelopment of Ramakrishna Beach, citing long-pending infrastructure and safety concerns. In his representation to the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry, he flagged traffic congestion, limited pedestrian access, weak drainage and damage to existing coastal structures. The proposal calls for a unified master plan covering public amenities, mobility, shoreline protection and parking. The Centre has acknowledged the submission and is expected to examine the proposal further.Read more
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