Rs 6.14 Central grant for JRD Tata industrial estate

Vijayawada: The Central government has sanctioned Rs 6.14 crore to the JRD Tata Industrial Estate here on Friday. The Industrial estate chairman, P Ravi Kumar, told media persons that the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) had cleared the proposal and sanctioned funds for the industrial estate. He said that they have to deposit Rs 1.53 crore as their share, following which the Central government would release the funds. Ravi Kumar said that local MP Lagadapait Rajagopal had taken up the case of the JRD Tata Industrial Estate, upgraded as Industrial Area Local Authority (IALA), which is starving for funds. Established in 1996 in 42 acres at Kanuru on the outskirts of the city, the JRD IALA has 144 plots given to industrialists. He said that industries and automobile units have come up in 100 plots providing employment to over 2500 persons directly and to another 5000 persons indirectly. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) had taken up the development of the area including provision of roads, drains, electricity and other basic infrastructure. He said that they have given a representation to the Central government for funds to develop the area. He said that the local MP had taken up the issue and secured funds from the Central government. He expressed confidence that the Central government would release the funds soon and help provide basic infrastructure, which would be an added advantage to the city. He thanked the MP for the initiative and said that they would provide their share of funds shortly so that APIIC begins the works. The Industrial Estate secretary, V Ramesh Babu, was also present at the news conference.