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The Outer Harbour had immensely contributed to the growth of the Visakhapatnam Port and it’s no exaggeration to say that it was responsible for catapulting Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) to the number one position in the country.

Prior to the inauguration of the Outer Harbour on December 8, 1976, the then VPT Chairman B.K. Rao called for a meeting of the Heads of various Departments. I had attended that meeting in my capacity as Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer (FA & CAO). Mr. Rao announced that the Outer Harbour would be inaugurated on December 7. I suggested that the inauguration be fixed for December 8, as the Ross Hill festival falls on that day and thousands of people congregate on the Hill Chapel to offer prayers. He declined saying that he had fixed the date after consulting pandits. He sent a telex to the Union Minister for Shipping Sardar Swaran Singh. As providence would have it, the Minister promptly replied that he wouldn’t be available on December 7 and sought the postponement of the inauguration by a day. The people who had gathered at the Ross Hill Chapel on that day prayed for the prosperity of Vizag and their prayers were answered. Later, Mr. Rao described December 8, 1976, as a red lettered day for Visakhapatnam Port in a souvenir. (Contributed by Paul Vedam)

In the erstwhile Visakhapatnam District Vizianagaram was like an enlightened city. It was culturally and academically advanced than Vizagapatam. The civic amenities were also well ahead of Vizag. Even before 1940s the roads were clean and well maintained. There were gaslights at the beginning of every street. The lamppost was made of a hollow iron pipe that was fixed to a concrete block with a bend at the top. The gaslight was hung to a hook at the end of the bend. Every evening a person would come to light the gaslights. The illumination was very bright and it was nice to see young children play under the lights after dark. A few children from the poor families would also come and study under the lights. (Contributed by B.V. Ramamurty)

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