Naidu’s govt pins hopes on Nakkapalli as new steel hub

Visakhapatnam: Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India’s upcoming integrated steel plant is expected to transform Nakkapalli in Anakapalle district into a major steel hub on the lines of Visakhapatnam, Jamshedpur, Bhilai and Bokaro over the next six to seven years, generating around one lakh direct and indirect jobs.

The Andhra Pradesh government, which secured an investment commitment of Rs1.5 lakh crore for the project, said the development would usher in economic prosperity in the region by attracting ancillary industries. The project site falls within the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada PCPIR and is also a node under the proposed Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor, enhancing its strategic industrial significance. Land has also been allotted for a captive port.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the project would transform the region into a bustling industrial centre. Addressing locals after performing the bhoomi pooja, he assured that those who contributed land for the project would benefit from rapid development, drawing parallels with Amaravati’s land pooling model. AM/NS India will invest Rs70,000 crore in the first phase to set up an 8.2 MTPA steel plant, with production of value-added steel expected to begin by early 2029. The facility is being positioned as one of India’s most advanced steelmaking plants, focusing on high-grade products to reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic manufacturing. The long-term goal is to scale up crude steel capacity to 40 MTPA, contributing to India’s ambition of reaching 300 MTPA steelmaking capacity by 2030-31. Union Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said the project would play a key role in achieving national steel capacity targets and boosting industrial growth.

AM/NS India signed two MoUs with the state government to build a future-ready industrial talent ecosystem in partnership with NAMTECH, its not-for-profit skilling initiative. The collaboration will focus on advanced technology, materials innovation and workforce development aligned with industry needs.