Will make Kurnool an industrial corridor: Chandrababu Naidu

Orvakal: Kurnool is on the threshold of becoming an industrial corridor. It will soon be another Sri City, announced Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, while laying the foundation stone for Jayraj Ispat Pvt Ltd here on Thursday.

Naidu who flew in here on Thursday morning reiterated his commitment to develop Kurnool district into an industrial corridor during his meeting with industrialists after the foundation laying ceremony.

Naidu said: "The day marks a big leap into the future of Kurnool as a steel factory will soon materialise here. This is only the beginning as several more industries are likely to be set up here in the coming years."

Naidu said the Jayaraj Ispat Pvt Limited will invest Rs 3000 crore at Orvakal. The company which has a long history since 1985 has a dynamic track record in construction. This is the third unit of the company apart from Bellary and Hyderabad. This plant is involved in the manufacturing of TMT bars and steel for three decades.

Naidu said the plant is designed to set up in an extent of 1000 acres but in the first phase it would be constructed in an extent of 415 acres of land and will produce 1.7 million metric tonnes per annum. Later, the production would go up to 2.2 million tonnes.

In the first phase, the company would invest Rs 2935 crore, generating direct employment for 1,060 youths and indirect employment to another 5,000. In the phase II and III, direct employment would be for 3000 and indirect employment for 12,000 youths.

The Chief Minister said several more industries are likely to come up with an estimated cost of Rs 28,000 crore with a potential to create 28,000 jobs. "There were no industries in Rayalaseema after the bifurcation. Only one industry, Uranium factory, was brought by late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy before the division, despite of strong opposition from the people of Kadapa.

Naidu said Orvakal would be developed on lines of Sri City. "We are setting up a mega seed park at Thangadancha in an extent of 650 acres from where seed would be supplied to the entire country. Kurnool has a suitable climate for developing seed. After the construction of the mega seed park, about 9,000 people would get employment.