Stage set for AMNS greenfield steel plant bhoomi puja in March

Visakhapatnam: Hectic preparations are being made by the Andhra Pradesh Government for performing bhoomi puja, sometime next month for the greenfield steel plant by ArcelorMittal/Nippon Steel (India) (AMNS) at Nakkapalli in Anakapalle district, about 90 km from here for its greenfield steel plant, considered the largest in India, with an investment of around Rs1.5 lakh crore.

The project for which all clearances have been obtained envisages an initial 7.3 to 10.5 million tonne capacity with a provision to expand it to 24 MTPA with a potential to create 70,000 direct and indirect jobs. The proposed steel plant, which was supposed to be launched during the two-day CII Partnership Summit in November, 2025, could not be done as per schedule due to certain clarifications sought by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The project has been sanctioned a captive jetty at Rajaiahpet, which was earlier allotted to Anrak Aluminium Limited (AAL)'s proposed refinery at Makavarapalem.

The project has been allotted in principle 2,200 acres to 3,800 acres in addition to 440 acres for township. Land has also been earmarked for development of a captive jetty. "The project will be a game-changer for economic prosperity of the region," Anakapalle MP and NJP leader CM Ramesh, who played a key role in the grounding of the project along with IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh, told Bizz Buzz.

Meanwhile, the land where the bhoomi puja is proposed to be held was inspected by DIG of Visakha Range Gopinath Jatti and Anakapalle SP Tuhin Sinha and reviewed the arrangements.

According to officials, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being invited to the function. A galaxy of Union Ministers and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to attend the ceremony.

The function will be held soon at Thammaiyapet village in Nakkapalli mandal. The DIG thoroughly inspected the assembly premises, the helipad, and the vehicle parking spaces. The local police officials have been directed to take pre-emptive measures and pay special attention to traffic control to avoid any untoward incident at the foundation stone-laying site.

Earlier, the government issued an order for allotment of about 2,200 acres @ Rs51,39,690 per acre for Phase-I of the project, subject to verification that the land requirement is as per steel plant norms. The recommendation ofState Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC) to transfer about 700 acres, falling within the Bulk Drug Park to AMNS, after approval of the Government of India, duly identifying and allocating about 710 acres of alternate lands to Bulk Drug Park project is also agreed. It is to note that this 700 acres of lands is part of the total 2,200 acres of lands allotted under Phase-I.

The government has already given the approval to APIIC to proceed for acquiring 440 acres of lands for township. APIIC has also been mandated to proceed for second phase land acquisition.

The GO also gave in-principle approval for allocation of land for captive port.

As part of incentives, the Department of Industries and Commerce has been asked to facilitate the inputs such as power, water, rail and road connectivity, usage of nearby quarries and tripartite MoU with NMDC as per the requirements and the rules, as per the request of the AMNS.