Citizens first

The Port City was ravaged by Cyclone Hudhud and as 2015 started, Vizag's cityscape looked disheveled and tired. Our trees were flattened and Vizagites mourned the loss of our green cover. Then Vizag went to work. Homes and factories were repaired, roads, electric poles and power lines were restored, new saplings were planted, and nature started its magical journey of recovery.
Then in the middle of 2015 the buzz of Smart Vizag energised our administration and caught our imagination. Everyone got an opportunity to participate in a poll to express their aspirations for our city. Simultaneously, the International Fleet Review (IFR) plans were unveiled. The Indian Navy was putting up a show the likes of which Vizag had not seen before. We are told that more than 100 naval vessels and around 60 countries would participate in this naval extravaganza. Our local administration got to work and soon many parts of our city got an extraordinary facelift.
Vizagites are upbeat and most of us feel that this will be a great city to live in. Optimism is important, it makes us better citizens. But we must guard against complacency. Sometimes in the blind pursuit of "development" cities lose what really matters on the long run. It may sound clichéd but I am dead serious, let us all take a pledge to be good citizens, to get involved every day, to protect our environmental, nurture our heritage sites and engage with our government to keep Vizag's public services working smoothly. Vizag's greatest asset is its people. Together we can build a caring, humane city that places citizens first. Happy New Year!