Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has expressed confidence that Visakhapatnam would be turned into a World Class City soon.
Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) here on Saturday, the Chief Minister said efforts were on turn Vizag into a knowledge hub and education centre. He said that the Central Government had announced several institutions for Andhra Pradesh at the time of State’s bifurcation, he said the process of setting up institutions like IIM, IIT and AIIMS has been set in motion. He said that the united Andhra Pradesh was on top in the higher education sector due to TDP Government's initiatives. He said he feels proud on finding that maximum IT professionals are Telugu speaking people. He said he had increased the number of engineering colleges by more than 350 during his regime.
Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh would soon get many more premier institutions including BITS. He said that he State Government has allocated about 370 acres of land for setting up the IIM. He said that the IIM has an adjacent lake and it would be one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Human Resources Development Smriti Irani said that IIM is being started to fulfill the promise made in the last Union Budget. She said that the IIM Bill would be introduced in the next session of Parliament and it would also be passed. She said that IIM Vizag would be extended all required assistance from the IIM Bangalore. She also informed that the new education policy would be implemented in near future.
Union Minister for Municipal Administration M Venkaiah Naidu hoped that the IIM Vizag would soon emerge as one of the premier institutions of the country. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning the IIM for Visakhapatnam. He also praised Chandrababu Naidu for effectively pursing the State's issues with the Centre.
Members of Parliament, AP Cabinet Ministers, legislators and senior officials were also present on the occasion.