Visakhapatnam, formerly known as Vizagapatam is the proposed executive capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It lies between the Eastern Ghats and the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
It is the second largest city in the east coast of India after Chennai and also the fourth largest city in South India. It is one of the four smart cities of Andhra Pradesh selected under Smart Cities Mission.
Visakhapatnam's history stretches back to the 6th century BCE, when it was considered a part of the Kalinga Kingdom, and later ruled by the Vengi, the Pallava and Eastern Ganga dynasties.
Archaeological records suggest that the present city was built around the 11th and 12th centuries with control over the city fluctuating between the Chola dynasty and the Gajapati Kingdom, until its conquest by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century.
Some of the notable poets from the city include Sri Sri, Gollapudi Maruti Rao, Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry. Visakhapatnam is one of the main tourism destinations in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is famous for beaches, caves and the Eastern Ghats as well as wildlife sanctuaries. About 30% of the city is covered with greenery.
In an exclusive interview with India Today at Davos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu discusses India's rising global stature and his vision for the state's development.
On this special session at Davos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu discusses India's rising global stature and his vision for the state's development. Naidu emphasizes that 'This is India's time' and credits Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the country's transformation on the world stage. Reflecting on his 30-year association with the World Economic Forum, he highlights his shift from 'ease of doing business' to 'speed of doing business' to attract global investment. The Chief Minister details plans for inclusive growth through cluster models in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati, alongside the establishment of 175 MSME parks. He also shares insights on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for governance, health through the 'Sanjeevani' project with Bill Gates, and infrastructure projects including 20 new ports and airports. Naidu remains optimistic about India's potential to lead for centuries through strong leadership and technological adoption.
On this Special Report from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu discusses India's global transformation and his vision for the state. Highlighting the shift from 1996 to the present, Naidu stated, 'Today, everybody is acknowledging, everybody is recognizing, and also everybody is saying this is India's time.' He detailed his transition from 'Ease of Doing Business' to 'Speed of Doing Business,' aiming to make Andhra Pradesh a global hub through cluster models in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati. Naidu also shared his ambitious 'one family, one entrepreneur' goal and the upcoming AI Living Lab. The session, which included the unveiling of Business Today's 34th-anniversary edition, touched upon infrastructure projects like 20 new ports and airports. Naidu emphasized that strong leadership and technology, particularly AI, are the primary drivers for India's double-digit growth and its emergence as a global leader in the 21st century.
This special report highlights the nationwide celebrations of Makara Sankranti, described as a 'festival of smiles and a new harvest'. The programme explores how the festival marks the sun's transition into Makara Rashi, symbolising prosperity, gratitude, and new beginnings for communities across India. The report captures the vibrant atmosphere as homes are adorned with colourful rangolis and traditional prayers are offered to the Sun God. From the joy of flying kites to the preparation of festive delicacies, the segment illustrates how Sankranti brings people together in a spirit of unity. The report concludes with a focus on the cultural significance of the harvest season, noting that the festivities remain a timeless tradition of joy and bountiful harvests for the people, particularly in regions like Visakhapatnam.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the progress of the Bhogapuram International Airport in Andhra Pradesh following the successful landing of the first commercial validation flight. GMR Group Deputy Managing Director I.P. Rao confirms that 96% of the work is complete and operations are expected to commence by May or June 2026. The programme highlights the airport's unique features, including the 'Mugulu' or Rangoli-inspired ceiling design and structural resilience against cyclones with a wind speed design of 275 km/hr. Rao also details the passenger capacity of 6 million annually and the integration of self-baggage drops.
In this Special Report, India Today's Consulting Editor (Sports) Nikhil Naz analyses the crucial 3rd ODI between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam. Naz highlights the significance of India finally winning the toss after a gap of 20 matches, terming it a 'massive relief' for captain KL Rahul. He explains how the 'dew' factor makes the toss vital, giving the chasing team a distinct advantage. The editor praises the bowling efforts of Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna, who restricted the visitors to 270 runs—the first sub-300 total of the series. Naz notes that despite South Africa's strong start, India's disciplined bowling in the middle overs has placed them in the 'driver's seat' to win the series decider.
India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI: Gautam Gambhir lashed out at an IPL team owner for suggesting split coaching, praised his players for bouncing back to win the ODI series, and reiterated his views on white-ball tactics in a fiery press conference that had it all on Saturday, December 6.
IND vs SA: India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate emphasised that the team is carrying a sense of desperation to win the ODI series against the Proteas, and will go all-out in the Vizag decider to turn their fate around.
This special report tracks Severe Cyclonic Storm Phethai, set for landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu overseeing the response. The IMD director predicted that 'the landfall is going to be between Mashlipatnam and... Kalingapatnam and this specific area runs through the belt of... Konaseema, Kakinada and Vishakhapatnam'. The storm is expected to hit near Kakinada with wind speeds gusting up to 110 kilometers per hour, prompting red alerts across coastal districts. Widespread impact is anticipated not just in Andhra Pradesh, but also in the neighbouring states of Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Authorities have initiated large-scale evacuations from low-lying regions, established numerous rehabilitation centers, and cancelled or diverted dozens of train and flight services to prevent loss of life and property as the cyclone approaches.
This special report focuses on Cyclone Manta, which is set to make landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh, triggering large-scale preparedness measures. Key figures discussed include Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who are monitoring the situation. According to officials, 'the landfall is expected to happen between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam is what officials have predicted and that is somewhere in the Kakinada region'. The report details the evacuation of people from low-lying areas to over 150 relief centers, the deployment of over 20 NDRF and SDRF teams, and predictions of wind speeds reaching up to 110 kilometers per hour. The administration is on high alert, with emergency services and special nodal officers appointed across districts to manage the unfolding crisis.
This special report tracks Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha, set to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on the night of October 28, 2025. According to IMD Director at Amravati, Selassamil, residents should brace for severe weather as ‘gale winds will be of 90 to 100 kmph, with maximum of 110 kmph wind speed.’ The cyclone has already led to the cancellation of six flights between Chennai and Visakhapatnam and is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall to coastal districts from Nellore to Vijayanagaram. Authorities have issued warnings for a storm surge of over one meter, potential landslides, and flooding, with NDRF and SDRF teams deployed for rescue and relief operations. The impact is also anticipated in Odisha, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
This special report focuses on Cyclone Montha, which has intensified over the Bay of Bengal and is set to make landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh, triggering large-scale preparedness measures in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ‘it is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of 28th October as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph’. The Andhra Pradesh government has activated a comprehensive action plan, evacuating people from low-lying areas and deploying special officers across multiple districts. With heavy rainfall and strong winds expected, beaches have been closed, and advisories are in place for coastal communities.
Women's World Cup, ENG vs NZ: New Zealand coach Ben Sawyer said that there will be a lot of emotions when Sophie Devine steps out to play her farewell ODI on Sunday against England in Visakhapatnam.
This special report unpacks the fierce investment showdown between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, featuring key figures like Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The war of words intensified after a comment attributed to Nara Lokesh on social media, suggesting 'Andhra's FDI is as spicy as its food, and that its neighbours are now feeling the burn'. The controversy centres on Google's landmark $15 billion investment to establish a massive AI hub and data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This has prompted criticism from the BJP against the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka for losing out. The debate also extends to Tamil Nadu, where the AIADMK questioned the Stalin government's inability to attract the tech giant, despite CEO Sundar Pichai's Tamil heritage.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is investing $15 billion to set up a massive AI data hub in Visakhapatnam — its largest investment in India yet.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu announced the state's emergence as India's first artificial intelligence hub, following a significant investment from Google. Naidu quoted a Google CEO, stating, "'Outside America, we are going to invest the most in Andhra Pradesh.'" This $15 billion investment over five years (2026-2030) includes powerful AI infrastructure, data center capacity, large-scale energy sourcing, and an expanded fiber optic network. An international subsea gateway with multiple international subsea cables will connect to Visakhapatnam, establishing it as an AI and connectivity hub serving India and the world. Chief Minister Naidu emphasized the importance of Andhra Pradesh's development for India's progress, highlighting job creation and prosperity in the Royal Seema region through projects initiated in Kurnool. New industrial corridors and hubs are being developed in Aarvakal and Koparati to accelerate industrial growth and create employment opportunities. Naidu noted that the world views India as a new manufacturing center, with Andhra Pradesh becoming a key focus for the Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision. He also criticized previous Congress governments for neglecting the state's capabilities.
This special report details the political controversy ignited after Andhra Pradesh secured a major investment for an AI data hub from Google, in partnership with the Adani Group. The BJP has seized upon this development to criticise the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka, alleging that the state lost the multi-billion dollar project because it was preoccupied with targeting the RSS. The transcript notes the BJP's argument: 'The Congress government in Karnataka is busy experimenting all its energy targeting the BJP and the RSS.' The controversy also involves Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, who has been vocal about restricting RSS activities, and Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh, who has been promoting his state's investment win. The project in question is a landmark partnership between Google and AdaniConneX to develop a massive AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam.
The ongoing rivalry between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka has intensified after Andhra Pradesh secured a $15 billion Google AI Hub investment, with Nara Lokesh taking a public jibe at the Karnataka government. Lokesh declared, 'Our FDI is as spicy as our food,' directly mocking Karnataka’s loss and highlighting Andhra’s success. The controversy has seen leaders from both states, including Priyank Kharge from Karnataka, exchanging barbs over investment inflows. The Google AI Hub, set to be established in Visakhapatnam, is being touted as a major win for Andhra Pradesh, sending a strong message to neighbouring states about its growing economic clout and ability to attract global tech giants.
Australia all-rounder Annabel Sutherland has said that they have had a good look at Bangladesh's pinch-hitter Shorna Akter ahead of their Women's World Cup 2025 clash on Thursday, October 16, in Visakhapatnam.
This special report covers significant political and social developments across South India. In Tamil Nadu, the tragic Karur stampede has led to intense political fallout, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami engaging in Assembly debates. The DMK's mouthpiece, Murasoli, issued a statement regarding Vijay following the stampede. A controversy has also emerged over the DMK government's announcement of a ₹15,000 crore Foxconn investment, which opposition parties like PMK and AIADMK have labeled a fraudulent claim after the company's denial of a new deal. The Tamil Nadu government is also preparing to introduce a 'Hindi Ban Bill'. In other regional news, Google's decision to establish its $15 billion AI hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, has sparked a political blame game in Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh commented on the Google deal. Further reports include a major rave party bust in Hyderabad, a political row in Karnataka over a proposed ban on RSS activities, a controversy over a student's right to wear a hijab in a Kerala school, and an alleged ritual violation at the Aranmula temple involving a Kerala minister.
