Minister seeks funds to develop external infra

Funding assistance needed for connecting road, water, power and gas

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Government has sought financial assistance from the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDC), a flagship programme by Government of India to develop industrial cities as smart cities and converge next generation technologies across the infrastructure sectors, for external infrastructure.

Speaking at a review meeting with the Director of Industries G Srijana and APIIC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director JVN Subramanyam in Vijayawada on Thursday, the Minister for Industries and Commerce Gudivada Amarnath said as per the existing provisions, NICDC is providing assistance for development of internal infrastructure only.

However, external infrastructure is equally important for development of the industrial area. In light of this, it is requested to provide funding assistance for external linkages such as connecting road, water, power and gas, he stated.

The Minister said AP is the only State in India to develop five nodes under the NICDC. "With assistance from the Government of India and dynamic leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, we are developing one node under the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor, three nodes under Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and one node under Hyderabad-Bangalore Industrial Corridor," he pointed out.

The Minister said for the VCIC, where three nodes are being developed, they have got aid from Asian Development Bank and other agencies. For the Krishnapatnam node,

Krishnapatnam node

Under Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC), the State hosts an industrial node at Krishnapatnam which is spread over an extent of 12,000 acre. This will attract an investment of Rs.37,500 crore while generating employment for 4.6 lakhs across three phases by 2040.

On the present status, he said the activation area is planned to be developed in 2,006 acre out of which around 92% land is available. Acquisition of the balance 144.60 acre will be completed by October, 2022.

The Master Plan gazette notification is targeted by August, 2022. Further, EC has been accorded 11,096 acre. Tenders are also released for development of trunk infrastructure works and the EPC contract is targeted to be awarded by August, 2022. The Minister said the infrastructure works will commence from September, 2022. The allotment of industrial plots will commence in a phase-wise manner in next 18-20 months.