Andhra restores lulu mall project in vizag

Here’s the latest—the Andhra Pradesh government has handed Abu Dhabi’s LuLu Group a golden ticket, allotting 13.43 acres of Harbour Park land in Visakhapatnam to build a blockbuster shopping mall. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation’s been told to hammer out the details, flipping the plot back from the Visakhapatnam Metro Region Development Authority after years of tug-of-war. LuLu’s dreaming big—think a kids’ amusement park, food court, and an 8-screen IMAX multiplex.

This deal’s got history—LuLu inked a pact with the state between 2014 and 2019 for this beach road gem, only for the YSRCP crew to yank it in 2023, prompting LuLu to swear off Andhra investments. Fast forward to the TDP-led coalition taking charge in 2024, and a March 13 investment meeting flipped the script—LuLu’s back, with bells on. They’re asking for a 99-year lease, three rent-free years till the mall opens, and a 10% rent hike every decade.

It’s a hefty turnaround—LuLu’s not just any player; they’re retail royalty, and this project’s set to juice up Vizag’s skyline and economy. The government’s betting on jobs and buzz, leaning into a public-private handshake that’s been on ice too long.