Veligonda project brightens prospects

Ongole: Donakonda Industrial Corridor, which has been in the news for the past four years but failed to attract any industries, is all set to see good days. The demand for completion of Veligonda project by all political parties and the positive response of the government has boosted the prospects of Donakonda as seen by flood of requests for land allotment in the Prakasam district.

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has seven industrial zones in the Prakasam district. As the state government is interested in development of infrastructure and opportunities for the interested industrialists, the district officials have proposed another 14 industrial zones in the district last year.

The officials are providing information to the interested entrepreneurs, but most of the enquiries are for places in the eastern area. For the last three months, the number of enquiries has increased for industrial zones in western area of the Prakasam district, i.e. Donakonda and Kanigiri.

In the first phase, the government decided to set up one MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) park at Ragamakkapalli in Donakonda and Malakondapuram in Pamuru mandals. Estimates for electricity and roads have been completed and the file has been sent to the government. In the second phase, the MSME parks at Giddaluru and Markapuram are proposed and the officials identified the site.

Apart from these MSME parks, the NDR Group was given consent to establish an agro products company in Donakonda industrial corridor. The group asked 400 acre and the proposal is under process.

A vehicle speed testing company, in association with IDIADA of Spain, sought 1000 acre land at Donakonda. As the demand is increasing for the land, the government has issued a GO giving advance possession of 2,500 of 12,000 acre government land to APIIC.

At Kanigiri, the APIIC has earmarked 18,000 acre for the National Investment and Manufacture Zone (NIMZ) and handed over it to APIIC.Handover of another 1,200 acre land is under process. The Central government and state government are about to setup a special purpose vehicle (joint company) to develop the infrastructure and allot land to the companies based on their requirement.

APIIC zonal manager M L Narasimha Rao said that the statement of Chief Minister reiterating his commitment to complete the Veligonda project has increased the chances of industries coming to the district.

He said that the companies are looking for a promised supply of water for their needs and they are establishing units wherever the water is available. He said the government had allotted about 50 acre for a food park at Nagarajupalli in Martur mandal and added that they were receiving enquiries for the Donakonda industrial corridor also.

He opined that the Ramayapatnam port and Donakonda industrial corridor will grow hand in hand when the government starts construction of Ramayapatnam port too. On the other hand, the Airports Authority of India is developing the Donakonda air strip as a no-frills airport.

The Bhogapuram International Airport Company India Limited has prepared a detailed project report already and submitted it to the government in favour of developing the Donakonda airport. In the last fortnight, several officials from the BIACL and AAI have visited Donakonda and surveyed the available land and requested 300 acre for the Donakonda airport.

The minister for forests, environment, science and technology Sidda Raghava Rao said that the Donakonda airport works would start soon as the government was ready to allot land for it. He said that the aerospace and helicopter repair and servicing company along with the automobile testing company would finalise the agreement with the government in a few days.

The Chief Minister is concerned about the development of the district but waiting for the correct promoter who can offer a large number of jobs to the locals and his wait is paying now, he said while observing that the development of Donakonda was just delayed and no one can stop its pace now.