Manmohan Singh’s special bond with Visakhapatnam

Former PM Manmohan Singh's impactful contributions to Visakhapatnam, including VSP expansion and INS Arihant launch, are remembered fondly.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a special bond with Visakhapatnam and participated in quite a few programmes in the city, including the laying of foundation stone for the expansion of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). He was also instrumental in the expansion of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

There was an air of festivity at the VSP during the visit of Dr. Singh on May 20, 2006.

“He laid the foundation stone for expansion of the VSP, besides presenting the PM’s trophy for being the Best Integrated Steel Plant from the same platform. The then CMD, Y. Siva Sagar Rao, received the trophy from Dr. Singh,” recalled a VSP official on Friday.

The then Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the then Union Minister of Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan, and the then MP, T. Subbarami Reddy, were among those present on the occasion.

The stone was laid for expansion of the steel plant capacity from 3 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes.

“Dr. Singh was instrumental in the merger of Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), which was then in losses, with the Defence sector and the Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Limited (BHPV) with the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). He had announced that another shipyard would be allotted to Andhra Pradesh. He had participated in the inaugural of the Gangavaram Port and played a key role in the setting up of the Naval Alternate Operating Base (NAOB) at Rambilli in Visakhapatnam district,” Koyya Prasada Reddy, former Chairman of AP Technology Services (APTS), told The Hindu.

Dr. Singh, who was the chief guest at the five-day Indian Science Congress, organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) at Andhra University in January 2008, had announced a new scheme – INSPIRE – to attract talent.