MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE OF MASTER PLANS OF VISAKHAPATNAM METROPOLITAN REGION

Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) is the second largest urban development region in the newly formed Andhra Pradesh. Being the largest industrial base, knowledge and IT cluster; the city plays a key role in economic development of the state. The purpose of this paper is to present the urban development challenges faced by the city and review how planning and development authorities have been addressing such challenges through planned efforts. This paper discusses the development strategies envisaged from time to time through review of 3 statutory master plans relevant for the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority Area. They include (a) Master Plan 1989 (valid up to 2001); (b) Master plan 2005 (valid up to 2021), which is currently under implementation; and (c) Master Plan for Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Petroleum Chemical Petrochemical Investment Region Special Development Authority (VKPCPIR SDA) Area. The three master plans have been analysed through the Multi-criteria analysis to assess their performance in addressing the urban development issues of VMR.