Delegates in awe of city

Visakhapatnam: Delegates at the BRICS meet on urbanisation impressed with the scenic beauty, greenery and sanitation found on the streets with in few hours of their arrival.

“I landed here five hours ago and found positive things about the city. Greenery, continuous economic activities, cleanliness on the roads, good manners of the people and a huge spread of lunch served to me,” said the Deputy Minister, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Republic of South Africa, Andries Nel.

Talking to this correspondent during the inaugural session, Nel said he was looking forward to exchange the ideas that were being implemented in the city towards urbanisation.

“I fell in love with Indian culture and traditions. Let me first put a bindi and then I will talk to you,” said Diana Motta,
Director of Department for Policies on Accessibility and Urban Planning Ministry of Cities, Brazil.

She said their government would like to share experiences on public policies, urban policies and housing polices in order to improve the quality of life among their communities.

Housing is an important subject in urbanisation and government's role in housing is to support the demand and integrate housing projects in transport system and sanitation.

“It is also important to improve urban planning and it is my expectation to know more about best practices from the forum,” she said.

“It is quite peaceful here,” said Ni Hong, Vice- Minister of Housing and Urban Rural development, China. He said urban conglomerates on the coast can develop faster and added that his country was classic example.