Praveen takes charge as Collector.

​Visakhapatnam: Praveen Kumar assumed charge as District Collector on Monday. He took charge from the outgoing Collector N Yuvaraj.
He said his main focus was to develop the district as No-1 in all fronts, including agency areas with team work and to reach the targets fixed by the State government.

It may be mentioned here that Yuvaraj has been posted to the Peshi of Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

Praveen Kumar told reporters that he was aware of the topography of the district as he worked as Joint Collector, Project Officer (FAC), ITDA, Paderu and Municipal Commissioner.

He said that with all his work experience and with public cooperation, he would try to involve entire district administration to make Vizag as the best Smart City in the country.

He said that with focus on education, transport and medical sectors in agency areas, the agency would be developed on par with other areas.

Stating that there was a positive atmosphere to establish various industries in the district, he felt it should be made more viable to attract new investments. With the Visakha- Chennai Industrial Corridor and Special Economic Zones, district revenue would be increased.

There were ample opportunities to develop tourism and “we will work as a team with commitment to develop all sectors,” he said.

Later, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations A Babji, DPRO Ramesh, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof G Nageswara Rao, Registrar Prof V Umamaheswara Rao, district officials, leaders of various employees’ associations, industrialists and NGOs leaders met the new Collector and congratulated him on the occasion.

New Collector tells officials to work hard.

Collector Praveen Kumar who assumed charge here on Monday, asked the district officials to compete with the respective departments of other districts in implementing all government welfare schemes and to strive hard to be in the first row.

After assuming charge, Praveen Kumar directly went to the Weekly Grievance Cell and addressed the officials present there. He asked them to work hard.

The performance of every government department will be assessed basing on how the fruits of welfare schemes are reaching to the poor beneficiaries. At the Weekly Grievance Cell programme, he announced that Dial Your Collector would be held every Monday from 10 am to 10.30 am.

He directed the officials to redress the representations received at the Weekly Grievance Cell using latest technology and keeping the aspirations of public in view.

Those who work with commitment would be encouraged, he said.

The Collector informed that during the next visit of the Chief Minister, he would likely review the performance of all departments for which the officials must gear up with full details.

Joint Collector-2 DV Reddy and DRO Chandrasekhar accompanied the Collector.

Later, the Collector called on the Panchayat Raj Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu at his residence here, seeking his cooperation in the integrated development of the district.

The Minister welcomed the new Collector and assured him of best cooperation from his side. He suggested him to focus on rural areas also along with the development of urban areas.