Ketan Garg, the Commissioner of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), has officially refuted rumors claiming that the corporation plans to impose a 'walking tax' for using parks and stadiums. He emphasized that these claims are entirely false and urged the public to disregard such misinformation. In a statement released on April 24, 2026, Garg highlighted the GVMC's commitment to public health and recreation, noting that the corporation has developed 45 parks over the past two years at a cost of approximately ₹35 crore (around $4.2 million USD). Furthermore, the GVMC has invested about ₹30 crore (approximately $3.6 million USD) in modernizing several playgrounds and stadiums, enhancing facilities for citizens. The newly developed Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium, managed directly by the GVMC without any private agency involvement, cost ₹18 crore (about $2.2 million USD). Garg also mentioned that the Rajiv Sports Complex in Gajuwaka and Indira Priyadarshini Stadium were developed for ₹10 crore (approximately $1.2 million USD) each, with substantial monthly maintenance costs incurred to ensure their upkeep.