Visakhapatnam will become the fifth largest economic city said IT & Education Minister Nara Lokesh said on Monday after laying the foundation stone of “Varun Bay Sands” hotel run by Varun group at RK Beach. Speaking on the occasion, Lokesh said that the Hotel is going to be an iconic one not just for Visakhapatnam but for the entire country as well. 

The Minister said that Visakhapatnam is being developed into a hub for industries and IT and assured that in the next five years, 5 lakh IT jobs will be created in the city.  Minister Lokesh announced that the Government will strive towards making Vishakapatnam as a brand as well as developing Andhra Pradesh industrially, and in particular tourism and IT sectors. Recalling that the first two highest majority seats in the last year’s assembly elections were from Visakhapatnam, Minister Lokesh said that he considers that as the faith shown by the people of the city on Telugu Desham Party. 

“After the NDA government came to power, Andhra Pradesh is running towards development. In the last five years, people, industrialists and businessmen have suffered a lot. The Chief Minister’ opinion is that the focus should be  not on ease of doing business but on speed of doing business” he said. He mentioned that Lulu Group and TCS and Arcelor Mittol steel factory will start their operations in Visakhapatnam soon. He termed as “game changer” the NTPC Green Energy project the foundation for which was laid virtually recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Stating that the buildings in Amaravathi will be completed in three years, Minister Nara Lokesh expressed his desire that the construction of Varun Bay Sands Hotel will be completed in two years by March 31, 2027. Vishakhapatnam MP M. Bharat, state ministers Vangalapudi Anitha, Nadendla Manohar, Union Minister Rammohan Naidu and former Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju were present on the occasion.