Unable to find a way to come out from huge revenue deficit, the three years old divided Andhra Pradesh State has finally found a major source of unending revenues. In a major relief, Government of Andhra Pradesh decided to covert its longest coastline and sea shores into a major economic activity. The State Government has drawn a draft plan to develop “Blue Economy” in all aspects.
The Chief Minister reviewed the progress on the projects in the Energy, Infrastructure and Investment Department. Principal Secretary Ajay Jain explained all the projects in brief, and a detailed discussion followed.
Huge potential in AP
Officials informed the Chief Minister that Andhra Pradesh has a huge potential of exploring aquatic wealth, heavy minerals and oil & gas along its coastline.
Beyond 100m depth, there is abundance of untapped aquatic wealth. 1,16,320 metric tonnes of a variety of seafood worth almost IJ1,000 crore can be accessed. He instructed officials to pursue this using deep sea vessels in PPP mode.
Heavy minerals like zircon, kyanite, monazile, rutile and ilmenite are found to have huge deposits in the coastline of AP, and have potential to drastically impact the economy.
Under the concept of the Blue Economy, officials also proposed the exploring of water tourism, ship-building, ship-recycling and renewable energy.
Ports Traffic
Andhra Pradesh ranks number 2 in the country, and has seen a growth of 9.7% in this quarter. Gangavaram has seen a growth of 46% and Kakinada Anchorage, a growth of 19.3%. The Bhavanapadu and the Machilipatnam ports are in the land pooling/acquisition stage.
Airports
Officials reported to the Chief Minister that all flights have 90-95% occupancy, and there is a need to increase air connectivity.
“We need to push the authorities at the central government, to insist and permit on higher connectivity between our capital and other cities of India”, he said.
He also reviewed updates of on ground progress and levelling of the runway for the Orvakallu Airport.
Other new projects that are currently witnessing fast progress are the Dagadarthi Airport and the Bhogapuram Airport.
Gas Infrastructure
The Phase 1 for laying the Natural Gas Pipeline from Kakinada to Visakhapatnam have 13 packages that are in the tender stage. All permissions are expected to be completed by December 2017 and Phase 1 will be completed by December 2018.
The Chief Minister has asked officials to push for CNG for domestic purpose. The domestic Pipeline Natural Gas (PNG) connectivity will start in Kovvur and 20 other towns of East & West Godavari districts by the end of next month.
Energy
The second phase of the Ultra Mega Solar Park in Ananthapuram will add 750MW in its second phase, to the 250MW of Phase 1 and will be commissioned in the next financial year. The plant in Kadapa will be commissioned by March 2018, and will have a capacity of 400MW.
Officials reported on the progress of the Solar Park by APGENCO in Anantapuram, the Ultra Mega Solar Park in Kurnool and Kadapa.
Work has started on both sites of the APGENCO Thermal Plants in Krishna and Nellore. The 12 waste-to-energy plants have a total capacity of 70MW have been allocated land, and work has commenced on all sites.
Convention Centre at Visakhapatnam
lulu International Shopping Mall Pvt ltd has been selected as the successful bidder, for the project which will cost approximately IJ756 crore. It will include an international convention centre cum exhibition centre, five star hotel and a commercial complex.
Energy and logistics University
land has been finalised, and governing council members are being identified.
JNTU-Anantapur has been identified as the temporary campus for the Energy University and Ideal Institute of Technology-Kakinada for the logistics University.
Electric Vehicle Development Center by Ashok leyland..
The CEO & MD of Ashok leyland, Vinod K. Dasari, met the Chief Minister and presented him with a proposal of setting up a bus plant in Malavalli Industrial Park with the potential of directly and indirectly employing over 5,000 people.
The facility will also contain an Electric Vehicle development centre comprising of a futuristic conveyor line, pilot assembly line and prototype development.
The plant in AP will be a green facility, with roof top solar panels, lED lighting, battery operated vehicles for in-plant movement, positive water balance and zero discharge.
The plant will be situated in a site of 75 acres, and will have the capacity to produce 4,800 buses per year.
FMCG Production Center by Wipro
Wipro has come forward to establish a FMCG Production Center in the State, VFO, Raghav Swamynathan, proposed to the Chief Minister. Wipro would invest IJ200 Cr to IJ350 Cr for this project and requested 40 acres of land in the State. Wipro would produce soaps and lED bulbs from the proposed FMCG Center.