Andhra Pradesh has submitted six proposals for sector-specific industrial parks to the Central government's Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA). State Industries and Commerce Minister T. G. Bharath announced the submission during an A. P. Assembly session on Thursday, confirming all proposals are now with the Union government for evaluation.
These parks are being considered through the challenge route of the BHAVYA process. Proposed sites include the AP Space City in Tirupati, covering over 1,000 acres, as well as the AP Drone City in Kurnool at 485.38 acres. Other locations are the Tekulodu Aerospace and Defence Park in Sri Sathya Sai district with 500 acres, the Makavaripalem Organic Food Park in Anakapalli also over 500 acres, the Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone in Prakasam district spanning 498 acres, and the Veldurthi Mega Textile Park in Palnadu at more than 500 acres.
Minister Bharath said a state-level committee, along with the state nodal agency APIIC and an internal BHAVYA evaluation committee, was formed under a government order from June 25, 2023. Selection was based on factors like industrial demand, location advantages, connectivity, and potential for employment and investment.
For these projects, detailed reports, master plans, and market assessments have been created. Environmental processes are underway. Infrastructure plans include worker housing, testing facilities, and skill-development resources. The government coordinated with departments to ensure water, power, and road connectivity, securing necessary comfort letters.
During the assembly session, Palla Srinivasa Rao, a legislative assembly member and TDP State president, urged prioritization of chemical and petrochemical parks along the Visakhapatnam–Chennai PCPIR corridor. He highlighted the region's strategic benefits, like its ports and the new Visakhapatnam-Bhogapuram International Airport, saying such parks could boost the pharmaceutical sector and improve raw material supply.
Rao also called for common effluent treatment plants, worker housing, testing and quality-control centers, and skill-development facilities. He advocated for a transparent accident insurance and compensation mechanism for industrial workers.
Senior MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy suggested withdrawing unused land allocations to industries that haven't started operations, proposing these lands be repurposed or given to new companies to boost development.
In response, Minister Bharath assured that the government would review the proposals and take appropriate action after necessary evaluations.
