Vizag, Vizianagaram to be growth engines: Assocham

Industry body Assocham feels that coastal cities of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagram will be growth engines in Seemandhra while Hyderabad will continue to retain its appeal as the global hub of business activities.

Commenting on formation of separate Telangana state, it hoped that the two new states would flourish.

"We only hope that the political turmoil over the Telangana issue is over and the two new states will flourish even more after creation of Telangana," said Assocham president Rana Kapoor in a statement here.

He said the special status to Seemandhra would make it an attractive centre of industrial investment.

"The locational advantages of Visakhapatnam being an important port city along with a well laid-out railway network will make the area a very attractive business proposition since the new investment will be eligible for a tax holiday," Kapoor added.

He called for special efforts to pump in development funds in Rayalseema region, which remains a backward area whereas the coastal Andhra is blessed with agricultural prosperity and natural advantage of rivers.

Kapoor further said the new government should place special emphasis on development of the backward areas throughout the country, be it Maoist-affected eastern India or some areas in southern and northern India which have not been able to keep pace with the rest of the country.