Foundation stone for Arcelor Mittal-Nippon Steel plant likely to be laid in Anakapalli district in October

The Andhra Pradesh Government is gearing up to have the foundation laid for the mega integrated steel plant of Arcelor Mittal-Nippon Steel (AM&NS) in Anakapalli district in October and get it completed by the end of 2028.

Kadapa plant

Apart from this, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is keeping in direct touch with the Jindal Group to give a tangible shape to the steel plant in Kadapa district, which is to be established in compliance with the A.P. State Reorganization Act of 2014, but has been hanging fire for over a decade now.

As far as the AM&NS steel plant is concerned, up to 6,000 acres of land has already been acquired and pollution clearance for it is expected to come in September, Industries & Commerce Minister T.G. Bharat has said, while claiming that some major players in the steel sector (other than AM&NS) are exploring the opportunities to invest in the State.

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu on Saturday, Mr. Bharat said top priority was given to the establishment of the AM&NS plant, and revival of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), which achieved a turnaround due to the financial package given by the Central government, after tottering on the brink of disinvestment.

More in the pipeline

On the other hand, the government has, in recent months, cleared multiple proposals for the establishment of industries with investments ranging from ₹100 crore to ₹5,000 crore. They are in various stages, and a good number of them are in the solar power, pharma and semiconductor sectors. Steps are taken for the development of an industrial corridor between Lepakshi and Orvakal.

Mr. Bharat said that Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, which had sent India’s first privately built rocket into space in late 2022, expressed keenness to set up a testing facility at Sriharikota. Besides, some big semiconductor manufacturing units were in the process of being established by South Korean and Taiwanese companies.

A.P. Industrial Development Policy (4.0) 2024-29, A.P. Food Processing Policy (4.0) 2024-29, A.P. MSME & EDP (4.0) 2024-29, and A.P. Private Industrial Parks Policy (4.0) 2024-29 laid a comprehensive framework that was needed to transform the State into a progressive industrial destination.

The speed with which businesses were being facilitated was helping Andhra Pradesh in clinching big deals, Mr. Bharat said, adding that several major projects were in the pipeline and the State would retain its leadership in Ease-of-Doing Business  rankings.