By Siva Gorripati
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh government would set up Unity Mall in the proposed executive capital of the state very soon as the government authorities had already identified suitable land on the beach road.
The government is to focus on the promotion and sale of the state’s own district, one product (ODOPs), GI products, and other handicraft products, and for providing space for such products of all other states, in Visakhapatnam. The authorities had identified a 10-acre land parcel near Rama Naidu Studios on the beach road near the Rushikonda area.
It is recalled that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the union budget this year said that the center would encourage state governments to start unity malls in the capitals of the states or in other major cities. The ODOP is an initiative by the union government to promote district-wise special products.
The Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath told TOI that Unity Mall will help create awareness among people about indigenous products and the heritage of the state. Apart from the Mall, the state government would also construct a convention center with a capacity of around 5000, he said.
“Convention center with huge capacity on the beach road naturally attracts everyone. The city needs a big convention center also. This convention center along with the mall is on the beach road which is going to be a six-lane road to Bhogapuram airport,” he said.
The central government had already sanctioned a Rs 180 crore loan to the state government. The state needs not to pay interest on the loan for 50 months. There were so many convention centers or malls, but unity mall would be different, the Industries and IT minister said. The construction of the Mall would take place in the next couple of months and would be completed in 24 months to 36 months.
