URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/23/stories/2006122310290300.htm
Horsley Hills plan gets clearance
TIRUPATI: The State Government, at a high-level meeting convened at Hyderabad on Thursday, cleared a Rs.6.79-cr. master plan for the natural hill-station-- Horsley Hills -- located in Chittoor district.

The plan broadly envisaged afforestation, setting up of a mini-zoo, aviary, arcadium, watch-towers, fire-lines, etc. with a plan outlay of Rs.60 lakhs.

It also proposes a Rs.52-lakh water supply scheme which includes laying of pipelines from Thungavaripalle besides constructing a reservoir with one-lakh litre capacity at H. Hills, musical fountains with Rs.25 lakhs, widening the narrow and rugged ghat-road spending Rs.2.5 crores and reconstructing the guest house at an estimated cost of Rs.85 lakhs.

A trekking route is also planned to be developed at a cost of Rs.1.47 crores from the Rishivalley side and a restaurant with at an estimated cost of Rs.10 lakhs.

The proposal also includes operation of direct bus service between Tirumala and H. Hills to tap the tourist potential of the pilgrims thronging Tirumala.

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top
Wind power units in Kadapa

Nandaluru (Kadapa), Dec. 22:Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation (Nedcap) district manager Alleswarachary on Friday said that two wind power units would be set up in the district soon. Speaking to reporters here, Mr Alleswarachary said that a survey was being conducted in Jammalamadgu area to establish the units. He said that each unit would produce 20 mw of power and it would cost Rs 200 crores to establish them.

Mr Alleswarachary said that so far 128 mw of power was being produced through wind mills in the State. He said that a survey was being conducted in Lingala to set up units to produce power from husk of paddy and groundnut.

http://www.deccan.com/Business/Business.asp
Reliance expects K-G gas in ’08
New Delhi, Dec. 22: Reliance Industries will begin crude oil production from its gas-rich D6 block in Krishna-Godavari basin off the east coast in Andhra Pradesh by first quarter of 2008. Reliance has filed a development plan for the MA-1 and MA-2 oil finds in the block KG-DWN-98/3, also known as D6, envisaging production of about 40,000 barrels per day of oil by February 2008 through an early production system (EPS), a source said.

A floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel will be ins-talled by October 2008 to boost output to 50,000 barrels per day. “The investment to be made for producing oil are being worked out with the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH). The issue is if an FPSO is to be hired or bought permanently. The costs will depend on what decision is taken after discussion with DGH,” the source said.

Reliance is in talks with Norway’s Aker Floating Pr-oduction for the FPSO capable to process 60,000 barrels of oil and nine million cubic metres of gas per day. The company’s Canadian partner Niko Resources had last week stated that well MA-2 had encountered the thickest hydrocarbon column discovered to date in D6. Well MA-2 encountered gross hydrocarbon column of 194 metres consisting of 170 metres of gas/condensate and 24 metres of oil.

Earlier MA-1 well, in the north-east corner of D6 off Andhra Pradesh in the Bay of Bengal, hit 26 metres of net oil pay and 72 metres of net gas pay. Reliance has till date made about a dozen gas discoveries in D6 and put combined reserves in the block at around 50 Trillion cubic feet (Tcf).

Dec 21, 2006 Newstoday
Bridge over Vasishta Godavari at Narsapuram
GoAP agreed to build a bridge across the river Vasishta Godavari at Narsapuram.
The estimated cost is Rs. 43 crore. GoAP would contribute half and the rest would be raised by BOT.

This has been long awaited by the ppl of both Godavari districts.
The bridge would connect both Godavari districts and help dev of Narsapuram and rural areas.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122402890300.htm
New stadium for Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry: Minister for Roads and Buildings J. Ramamohana Rao has announced that the new sports stadium is going to come up in Lal Bahadur Sastry grounds, near Central Prison and the indoor stadium would be constructed with the support of the BCCI and other sponsors.

Change of decision :Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the Minister said that earlier the Government had decided to construct the stadium in Arts College grounds, but for traffic congestion and other reasons, they decided to shift the site to LBS grounds.

The Minister said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had promised the State Government to give Rs.3.50 crores for constructing the indoor cricket stadium as well as for other indoor games. He said that they were going to invite the Chief Minister to lay the foundation for the stadium within two months.

Kolleru lake to be developed
DC
Eluru, Dec. 23: Minister for marketing and West Godavari in-charge Botsa Satyanarayana said on Saturday that Kolleru lake will be developed as a tourist centre and assured employment opportunities to the local youth. Taking part in a public meeting at Prathikollalanka village under Eluru rural mandal, the minister said that the Operation Kolleru carried out in the recent past made the villagers happy as they were being provided with various sources of employment. He said that Kolleru villagers were having the natural right to take up conventional fishing in Kolleru waters.

Local MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao said that the State government provided loans and assets worth Rs 40,000 to each household. He appealed to the minister to ensure that the forest officials do not raise objections for raising paddy as second crop in waste lands at Kolleru. Mr Rao said Congress president Sonia Gandhi will visit the district to see the development of self-help groups in the Kolleru region shortly. District collector Luv Agarwal said that Kolleru women will be given training for value addition to the fish products.

Saturday, December 23, 2006
Phase 3 Genome park
Mr B.P. Acharya, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of APIIC, said the 400 acre third phase of Genome Valley would house 75-acre special economic zone and Shanta Bio's 62-acre facility at Shameerpet. GVK Bio too is interested in setting up a facility.

DuPont is likely to set up one of the biggest research and development centres in the ICICI Knowledge Park. The company is likely to line-up investments to the tune of Rs 100 crore in three years in the field of nanobiotechnology. The Genome Valley project, promoted by the Andhra Pradesh Government to make the State a hub for biotechnology companies, will get a shot in the arm with major companies DuPont and Biocon showing keen interest in locating facilities here.

Another company 3G Biotech, promoted by non-resident Indians, has been given an offer letter, allotting five acres, the AP Minister for Major Industries, Sugar and Tourism, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, said. The company would make an initial investment of $25-30 million. http://www.cyberabadtimes.net/2006/12/phase-3-genome-park.asp

just another political gimmick by the opposition

It may be a political gimmick by the opposition but the ruling party is also not above board. The CM himself is violating land laws and enjoying forest and assigned lands illegally all these years.Just to spite at Margadarsi group they have to pretend as though they r honest now.The state is going thru a bad period.The separate Telengana demand is intensifying day by day.Power shortage and power cuts even in winter after heavy rains is causing unrest in farmers.The TRANSCO employees r targetted for this. On account of squandering of funds the mid day meals for poor school children is floundering.
The ORR malady still continues.Promises r made by the investors MOUs r signed but slowly the fear of the investors turning their backs is dawning on us.The assigned land controversy is going to even drown many middle and lower middle class people who have bought plots in RR dist from Land developers and promoters who have in turn bought lands cheaply from the farmers. It is slowly surfacing now that the lands sold cheaply to the promoters are assigned lands. WHAT COMETH FROM ALL THIS GOD ONLY KNOWS!!!

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122503020300.htm
Sri Lankan firm to set up apparel park in Nellore
NELLORE: After South India Mills Association (SIMA) of Coimbatore, it is now the turn of Sri Lanka-based Asian Apparel Fabric Technology Park Private Limited (AAFTP) to set up an apparel park in the district.

The Sri Lankan firm will establish an apparel park, which consists of 20 textile units at Chintavaram of Gudur revenue division. The park is expected to generate more than 30,000 jobs to rural people.

Industrialists from Sri Lanka have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government a few days ago. The anchor unit holder and developer of the project MAS Park will lead as the Special Purpose Vehicle, a senior official said.

http://www.deccan.com/City/CityNews.asp
Big list of gadgets to target vehicles is ready

Hyderabad, Dec. 24: The State Transport Authority and the police are on a shopping spree for a long list of gadgets to track down traffic offenders. The STA has placed an order for five interceptors, each costing about Rs 25 lakh, to track violators. The interceptors with high resolution cameras and computers will snap pictures of traffic. Notices will be issued to traffic violators who will be traced by their vehicle registration numbers.

The STA will also introduce speed governors, automatic devices to regulate vehicle speed, in school buses and maxicabs from the new year. The police meanwhile will purchase state-of-the-art gadgets to track stolen vehicles. Additional commissioner of police, traffic, A.K. Khan said the Centre had asked the city police to send proposals to purchase gadgets to control traffic and crime.

He said the proposed equipment will provide all the details about a stolen vehicle just by entering the registration number. Similarly, the driver’s record can be traced by feeding his/her licence number. He said the traffic police was purchasing speed cameras, breath analysers and interceptors under the mega city policing scheme funded by the Centre.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122504430400.htm
State not to touch assigned land of poor: YSR
HYDERABAD: Allaying apprehensions over the recently passed Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Amendment Bill, the State Government has made it clear that the assigned lands in possession of the poor and the weaker sections will not be touched during the drive to resume them. The Government will not resume assigned lands purchased unknowingly by the poor and it will, instead, ensure that such lands are regularised in the names of those in their possession.

This was made clear by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Sunday while renewing his call to those enjoying assigned lands to voluntarily surrender them to the Government within 90 days. Dr. Reddy asked the district Collectors to be on alert while dealing with the assigned lands while the mandal level authorities should ensure that separate cells were opened in their office to identify such lands.

In this direction, he asked the mandal revenue officers to prepare lists of assigned lands under their jurisdiction to ascertain whether they were in possession of the original allottees.

Field inspections :Once the lists were prepared, the revenue officials concerned would conduct field inspections that would be followed by submission of detailed report to the assignment committees headed by the legislators concerned. The Government was committed to distributing the resumed assigned lands to the poor and the landless while the non-cultivable lands would be utilised for public purposes like construction of hospitals and schools.

Panel report :The Cabinet Committee on assigned lands headed by Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao would submit its report on December 28 and some major decisions on land assignment was expected to be taken on the same day. Referring to the political parties' criticism on his decision to voluntarily surrender lands in possession of his family, Dr. Reddy said while he had intended to set an example by volunteering to give the lands, some political parties were raising hue and cry, as they were afraid of losing the lands they were enjoying.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122504360400.htm
Stone laid for eco park

KADAPA: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation stone for a Rs. 8-crore Kadapa Eco Park consisting of botanical gardens, herbivore safari and bird park at Idupulapaya reserve forest, near YSR Estates, in Vempalle mandal here on Sunday.

Dr. Reddy also inaugurated Haritha resorts of the Tourism Development Corporation built at the pilgrim centre of Gandi in Chakrayapet mandal.

The resorts, constructed at a cost of Rs. 80 lakhs, comprise six cottages, a restaurant, playground and landscape garden.

The Old Godavari Bridge or the Havelock Bridge: Now decomissioned, this bridge has 56 spans and is 2.754 kms long. It was constructed with stone masonry and steel girders and certainly a marvel of British engineering. Godavari / Rajahmundary, 2003-12. By M. S. M. Saifullah.

http://i16.tinypic.com/357hxs5.jpg

Road-cum-Rail Bridge on Godavari at Rajahmundry (Picture credits: Yugandhar)
Road-cum-Rail Bridge: Probably the second longest rail bridge in India. Note the double masts for support.

http://i11.tinypic.com/4c7uyyq.jpg

The New Gosavari Bridge at Rajhmundry (Photo credits:Pichika)
The New Godavari Bridge: Constructed by the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), this bridge is a modern day engineering feat.
It is a unique bridge that is based on 28 bow string arch girders with equal spans of 97.5 m, thus making the total length 2.730 km.
The bridge is fit for 250 kmph services.

http://i14.tinypic.com/2uhodpl.jpg

The New Godavari Bridge. (Photo credits: M. S. M. Saifullah).
http://i12.tinypic.com/2ivekph.jpg

The New Godavari Bridge as viewed from Godavari railway station.
One can see the other end of the bridge quite clearly as the bridge is dead-straight.
Notice also a future provision for doubling of the line on the right hand side. 2003-12. By M. S. M. Saifullah.
http://i10.tinypic.com/2nk1m48.jpg

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/27/stories/2006122724420500.htm
115 MW from Kaiga allotted to State

HYDERABAD: The State has at last secured its share of 115 MW out of the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnataka as originally allocated. This followed parleys held by Energy Minister Mohd Ali Shabbir with his Central counterpart S. K. Shinde in New Delhi on Tuesday.

An order transferring this installed capacity of 115 MW to the State from Tamil Nadu was issued by the Central Electricity Authority. On completion of the construction of Kaiga plant in 2002, the Union Governmenthad offered 115 MW to the State as its share. The State however refused to claim it on the grounds of prohibitive cost of the Kaiga power. But, it sought the same later following shortage and renewed the plea now in the light of the present the present power crisis.

Sources in APTransco said the utility would have to pay a stiff price of Rs. 3.70 per unit now for the power generated at Kaiga plant out of the State's share (115 MW). Compared to this, the price paid for power purchased from West Bengal Electricity Board and Calcutta Electricity Supply Company (CESC) is Rs. 5.70 per unit.

"The purchase of 100 MW from West Bengal and the CESC and 115 from Kaiga, however, is not going to solve the problem", the sources added.

Andhra to spend Rs 5,357 cr on basic amenities (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=269395&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to spend Rs 5,357 crore, including Rs 2,509 crore of Central funds, on its massive programme to provide basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, health, education and housing for urban poor in all towns in the state.

A press release today stated that the state government had already allocated Rs 1,848 crore for projects benefiting the urban poor in all municipal areas by providing them with gainful employment.

The state has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the Central assistance under various schemes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), according to the release.

The chief minister also instructed the officials to accord top priority to increase the drinking water supply in towns to 1,750 MLD (million litres per day) by the year 2009 from the present 1,235 MLD.

During the last one year, the per capita availability of water in urban areas has increased from 61 litres to 74.40 litres and the target is to achieve 100 litres per capita availability, compared with 80 litres as per World Health Organisation standards, it stated.

Efforts on to restore historic temple
Thursday, December 28, 2006 (Warangal):
http://inwww.rediff.com/newshound/ap.html NDTV.com

The famous Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal is crumbling because it was built almost 900 years ago on a base of sand. In fact, the grand 132-pillar Kalyana Mandapam had to be dismantled by the Archaeological Survey of India because it was in an utterly dilapidated condition.

However, every pillar, column and beam that has been dismantled has been numbered and stored at this Padmakshi temple Complex, one km from the Thousand Pillar Temple, as the authorities intend to rebuild the structure again as per its original design.

But only 119 pillars of the original 132 in the Mandapam are still in good shape. "We will utilise all the existing rocks and structures that are intact and available. The 15-20 per cent of the members which are missing will be duplicated with the help of experienced sculptors from Tamil Nadu," said Prof Panduranga Rao, Advisor, Thousand Pillar Temple Project. Experts say one of the main reasons for the collapse of the original structure is the sand box technology that was used to construct the temple.

The Kakatiyas used wide pits filled with sand as the base to support their rock constructions, unlike the pillar-based construction technique used at present. "The temple was built on sand almost 900 hundred years ago, so once the sand moved, the entire structure including the pillars got damaged."

"During the Nizam's time, restoration work did take place but that was not sufficient," said K Damayanthi, Collector, Warangal. The restoration project that will cost Rs 3.5 crore, has been designed by the National Institute of Technology in Warangal and the ASI hopes to complete it by June 2008.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/22/stories/2006122210160500.htm

All is well that doesn't end well!
http://i18.tinypic.com/4hwfpdy.jpg
DIGGING DEEP: The ongoing works of reconstruction of kalyana mantapam at Thousand Pillar temple in Warangal. - Photo:M. Murali

WARANGAL: What is being viewed as an architectural wonder of Kakatiya rulers that came to light, is talk of the town now. When the ground was being dug to lay the foundation for a kalyana mantapam, which was dismantled for reconstruction by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), workers came across a clay pot full of water underneath. Water has been oozing out from all four corners of the dug up portion since then.

According to experts of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), structures built during the Kakatiya period were based on sand box and natural clay cover and that there was no mention about any water underneath.

According to local historian and author on Kakatiya sculptures Dendukuri Someswar Rao, there was no talk of the kalyana mantapam in the inscriptions found at the Thousand Pillar temple.

Link to Bhadrakali tank? :"Before the Kakatiyas, there could be a habitation where the Jains built their pagoda. The clay pot could be a well," Mr. Someswar Rao, a life member of INTACH, says. Rumours are rife that the Kakatiyas could have built the structure on water and it could be a link to Bhadrakali tank. Since Wednesday morning, people are making a beeline to the temple to have glimpse of the water pot. Meanwhile, officials of the ASI are tight-lipped.


URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/23/stories/2006122313300500.htm
Thousand Pillars `mantapam' reconstruction postponed

WARANGAL: The reconstruction of the `kalyana mantapam' at the historic Thousand Pillars temple would be temporarily put off, according to officials of State Archaeology department and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Deputy Director of ASI G Maheswari and Director of State Archaeology department J Kedareswari visited the Thousand Pillar temple site and interacted with local officials and inspected the place themselves on Friday.

They said they would seek the help of National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and based on the recommendations of the institute, the reconstruction would be planned again. The officials differed with the report prepared by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) experts. "According to NIT reports, water is at a six-metre depth but now water is seen just at three-metre depth. We will further continue the excavations on south east side of the temple," they said.

Excavation : According to officials, the well which was unearthed during the digging work could be belonging to pre-Kakatiya period. The proposed excavations would reveal more information.

Maheswari and Kedareswari said the recent manifestations necessitated further studies on scientific lines and hence the reconstruction work could be delayed. They said they would seek the help of the High Court to buy more time as it could not be completed without making further studies.

"Never a work of this nature was undertaken before. Transplantation of structure was made but not reconstruction of historic monument as Thousand Pillars temple," they explained.

Now, the officials propose to change the design of the foundation with the help of NGRI. They opined that the foundation on marsh cannot sustain the structure and there was every possibility of structure sinking.

It may be recalled that the `kalyana mantapam' was dismantled by the ASI for reconstruction. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 3.5 crores for the purpose. The reconstruction work began last month.

So far, the executing agency dug up the ground to about 12 feet which brought to light a clay pot-like structure with water. Water has been oozing from all four corners of the site.

Thousand Pillar Temple

About 150 kms. from Hyderabad lies the ancient city of Warangal. Noted today for its beautiful lakes, magnificent temples and wildlife, Warangal possess the marvelous thousand pillared temple, built by King Rudra Deva in the 12th century. The famous Thousand Pillar Temple, built in 1163 AD, by king Rudra Deva is an important monument situated near the Hanamkonda-Warangal highway. One thousand richly carved pillars and a magnificent black basalt Nandi bull are unique to this temple which is dedicated to Lords Shiva, Vishnu and Surya.

The temple is in shape of a star and has three shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. The temple is built on a 1m high platform on the slopes of the Hanumakonda hill, and has a majestic monolithic Nandi. The black basalt Nandi, a monolith, has a lovely polished finish. There are many small lingam shrines surrounding the gardens. The temple is famous for its richly carved pillars, screens and detailed sculpture.


URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/30/stories/2006103000510200.htm
Portion of Thousand Pillar temple to be reconstructed

http://i18.tinypic.com/33mc4fo.jpg
AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING: Minister for Museums N. Rajyalakshmi, Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and others laying the foundation for the re-construction of a part of the Thousand Pillar temple in Hanamkonda on Sunday. — Photo: M. Mura li


WARANGAL: The Thousand Pillar temple at Hanamkonda and Ramappa temple at Venkatapur mandal would be included in the list of world heritage monuments soon, said Minister for Archaeology & Museums N. Rajyalakshmi.

The State Government, which has enhanced the budget for the department from a mere Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs 2.5 crores, proposes to develop the historical places and improve the existing museums.

"The Government is planning to set up a museum at Warangal fort with Rs. 1 crore," the Minister said. The Minister was here to lay the foundation stone for reconstruction of a part of the Thousand Pillar temple that was dismantled by Archaeological Society of India here on Sunday. The structure would be in place in two years and the Central Government had sanctioned Rs. 3.5 crores for the purpose.

Museums : Ms. Rajyalakshmi said that it was decided to set up one museum in each district and to begin with, they will come up at Nagarjunasagar and Medak very soon.

The existing Gandhi Centenary Museum at Karimnagar would be renovated and extended. The Minister lamented that public patronage to the museums is on the wane. "Not many people are aware of the State museum at Hyderabad. We have recently added 16 galleries and one more in the process exclusively for Ajanta paintings," she pointed out.

The Government contemplates to include in the school curriculum about archaeology and museums, she said.

Thousand Pillar Temple of Warangal and more.
Thanks to Luckstreak.
Enjoy the pics...
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=11065556#post11065556

HCC bags Rs 275cr BOT (Annuity) project of NHAI

Souce: Moneycontrol.com (http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressmarket/hindustanconstructioncompanyconstruction/hccbagsrs275crbotannuityprojectnhai/market/stocks/article/258851)
Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC), India’s leading construction and infrastructure development Company has bagged the prestigious 30 Km highway development contract of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on NH-7 in Andhra Pradesh under North-South Corridor (NHDP Phase II) on BOT (Annuity) basis.

The contract envisages design, construction, development, finance, operation and maintenance of 30 kms of four lane highway between Kadtal and Armur on NH-7. The value of the EPC contract is estimated at Rs 275 crores. The company has received the letter of acceptance from NHAI for this project with semi-annuity amount of Rs.23.80 crores which will be paid over next 18 years (36 instalments) excluding the construction period of 2 years. This is the first BOT (Annuity) project being implemented by HCC for NHAI.

In the transportation segment HCC has a strong track record in the construction of Bridges, Roads, Highways, Railways and MRTS (Mass Rapid Transport System). In the MRTS space, the company has executed the Kolkata and Delhi Metro Rail project. HCC has also executed the Mumbai-Pune expressway, the first ever 6 lane concrete pavement express way in India. It has built nearly 173 road bridges; the combined length of which would approximately be 46,458 meters. HCC's overseas performance in the construction of bridges has also been impressive with over 34 bridges built in Iraq alone. It is the first Indian contracting company to venture in a big way into Jammu & Kashmir for redevelopment works. It is building 84km of the historical Mughal Road along with 4 major hydel power projects in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The company is also constructing the 8 lane, 4.6 km long Bandra-Worli sea-link project in Mumbai which will be an engineering masterpiece.

HCC’s order book has more than doubled over last one year. Project assignments have been secured across diverse sectors like transportation, nuclear and hydro power generation, water supply and irrigation. The current order book position involves 45% of the Power projects, 40% of the Transportation projects, 12% Water & Environment project and 3% other projects. The company’s varied expertise and presence in diverse sectors reduces dependence of growth from any one segment of business, thereby minimizing risks and ensuring stronger returns.

ORR proposed for Kurnool

# Surface Transport Ministry to fund
# The ORR will connect NH 7& 18
# Existing old bypass road needs widening

Soure: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/29/stories/2006122914250300.htm)
KURNOOL: Mayor S. Raghurami Reddy said the corporation was seriously considering the construction of outer ring road around Kurnool connecting the National Highways 7 and 18 with funding from the Union Surface Transport Ministry.

Mr. Reddy told The Hindu that the ORR was vital to Kurnool city for bypass of heavy traffic on the two important national highways and place the city on the path to development.

The proposed road will connect NH 18 and NH 7 between Nannur and Tadikanapalli running up to K. Nagalapuram to join the Bellary Road. An old road laid during British time exists even now and only a widening of it is required. On the eastern front, the road takes off from Nannur to connect Kurnool-Guntur road and crosses the Tunghabhadra river at Gondiparla and joins NH 7 again at Itikyalapadu in Alampur constituency of Mahabubnagar district.

Formal proposal

The stretch between Kurnool city and Alampur crossroads was developing as an industrial township attached to the city. MP Kotla Jayasuryaprakasa Reddy already wrote to the Surface Transport Ministry which has responded to the proposal. The corporation too would make a formal move for the ORR, Mr. Reddy said.

Pending plans

The Mayor said the proposal to augment drinking water supply system of the city at a cost of Rs. 36 crores was pending with the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). The State Government cleared the proposal and forwarded to the Centre. If cleared by the Centre, the city would have water supply infrastructure capable of supporting up to the year 2026. Also, underground drainage was proposed for the city at a cost of Rs. 89.15 crores.

Is this upcoming Kurnool ORR set to be an Expwy like the Hyderabad ORR and Warangal Circular Road (whatver happened to it?)

Is this upcoming Kurnool ORR set to be an Expwy like the Hyderabad ORR and Warangal Circular Road (whatver happened to it?)

Its going to be more like Hyd IRR, with lights at some junctions.
NH7 is passing by Kurnool. NH18 (Kurnool -Kadapa) is cutting NH7 in a wide angle out side of Kurnool. So, they want to widen the inner/district roads connecting these two highways to form a loop around Kurnool.

Warangal is waiting to fianalize their plan for an ORR.
URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/07/stories/2006090716360300.htm
KUDA master plan in one year

Before finalise the ring road, the authority plans to develop the existing 44-km ring road from Rangasaipet to Kadipikonda.

AP seeks 400 Mw more from Centre
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Hyderabad December 28, 2006
The Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to meet the state’s demand for power by seeking from the Centre 300 Mw-400 Mw from the unallocated pool in addition to 115 Mw from Caiga Atomic Power Station and 100 Mw from West Bengal, being accessed from today.

The power supply position in the state has deteriorated in recent weeks with close to 1,000 Mw of installed capacity getting off the hook on account of both planned and unplanned outages resulting into a full blown political issue with the opposition parties planning to hold massive farmers' protests commencing tomorrow.

While the base availability of power generation is currently hovering around 5,100 Mw, the state power utilities are struggling to meet the peak load of up to 7,000 Mw by resorting to various measures including peaking generation of close to 900 Mw of hydro electricity, overdrawal of power from the regional grid etc.

The state is currently drawing 36 million units (mu) a day from the central sector in addition to about 23 mu from the NTPC's Simahadri Power project, which exclusively supplies power to Andhra.
Keeping with the trend of increased consumption levels mostly from agriculture and domestic sectors, the state grid handled a day’s consumption of about 150 mu on Tuesday, compared with 137 mu on the corresponding day last year.

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the government had drawn up plans to purchase additionally about 2,000 mu of power costing about Rs 689 crore during the December-March period to meet the additional demand mostly arising out of agriculture operations.

All other alternatives including the possible generation of power using the naptha fuel are being considered as the peak demand is expected to go up as high as 190 mu by March 2007. He admitted that the agriculture consumptionhad gone up by almost 20 per cent with the increased acreage of 26 lakh hectares under well irrigation during the current rabi season.

this is what happens when free power is given to every damn farmer regardless of his/her real financial and living conditions. there are just too many farmers to give them all free power. YSR is learning the lesson for populism.

Mechanism to curb traffic snarls set in motion
Friday December 29 2006 12:17 IST Newindpress
VIJAYAWADA: A joint mechanism involving the civic, police, RTC and other departments has been set in motion to address the issue of chaotic vehicular traffic in the city.

A day-long joint tour of various departmental heads, led by commissioner of police C V Anand and municipal commissioner Natarajan Gulzar identified several bottle-necks like unauthorised use of cellars, vehicular parking on main roads, road encroachments and illegal road use by commercial vehicles in areas like M G Road, Benz Centre, Patamata, Krishna Lanka and One Town.

Traffic flow improvement measures in the pipeline are: shifting of NTR statue in Patamata and pruning the round about in which the statue is installed, widening of Pantakaluva Road and free right passage towards Benz Centre.

CV Anand suggested that signal lights could be provided at the points where the feeder roads join the national highways, the municipal commissioner reciprocated positively and said a signal light would be erected at the Jyothi Mahal centre on NH 9.
A suggestion was made to the RTC to move some existing bus bays. For instance, it was suggested that the bus bay on the Bypass Road at Kanakadurga Varadhi could be moved a little further onto the feeder road to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on the NH. It was also suggested to move the bus bay at the Krishna Lanka fire station a bit further.

Gulzar said that a committee, on the lines of City Coordination Committee set up at Hyderabad, would be put in place here too. The committee would undertake fortnightly inspections.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/30/stories/2006123007400500.htm
Rayalaseema Paper Mill back on rails

KURNOOL: The machines started roaring once again after a gap of 17 years at the Rayalaseema Paper Mill at Gondiparla on the outskirts of the city. The sounds have been music to the ears of hundreds of skilled workers, who were forced to eke out a living as casual labourers and petty vendors on the streets during the closure period.

The trial run started a month ago at the mill, which would declare commercial production in a month or two. P. Vaikunta Rao, director, in-charge of operations said, in the first phase around Rs. 15 crores was invested to revive the first machine with a capacity of 150 tonnes per day. In the second phase, an amount of Rs. 35 crores was being invested to revive the 250-tonne capacity machine taking the total to 400 tonne a day.

Automation : A large portion of the amount was going into automation of the mill and settling wages of the workers. A sum of Rs. 2 crores was invested to install Distributed Control System (DCS) integrating the functioning of the entire mill. Initially, the production will be limited to manufacturing quality paper using semi-finished raw material like paper pulp and milky white waste paper. The mill will think of reviving its own pulp unit in the third phase.

The mill has re-employed 400 workers and engaged another 400 contract workers. Manager V.K. Muralidhar, who administers the mill on behalf of B.V. Satya Sai Prasad & Associates, said the mill got various tax concessions for the next three years, which is the crucial time for the mill to stand on its feet.

A mission : Reviving the mill is more than a mission for half-a-dozen managerial staff. The management successfully roped in a team of retired technocrats with rich experience paper manufacturing field to place things in order. Mr. Vaikunta Rao, who retired after working with various global organisations, came forward to contribute his mite in reviving the mill in which he had worked 20 years ago. Another retired man M. Satyanarayana is heading the quality control wing. P.L Muralikrishna, a former employee, took time off his lucrative assignment abroad and joined as technical adviser to revive the mill.

"We want to revive the mill because every person in Kurnool thinks it as his and place it in the hands of a young team after stabilisation," Mr. Vaikunta Rao said exuding confidence.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/30/stories/2006123003690200.htm
Lepakshi to open five showrooms

GUNTUR: The Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited will open five more new showrooms in the next calendar year to take the total from current 14 to 19 countrywide, its Managing Director B. Jayaraj has said. The proposed showrooms will be in Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad.

At a press conference here on Friday, he said `Lepakshi' the brand image of the corporation was the best in the country and most profitable with the annual turnover going up year by year from Rs. 31 crore two years ago to Rs. 43 crore last year and during current fiscal it targeted a turnover of Rs. 55 crore.

The corporation organised 80 exhibitions all over the country, of all magnitudes, against 75 last year and was planning a major `Crafts Bazaar' show in Guntur in May next year, he said and added that that would have at least 150 stalls from various parts of the country in addition to cultural shows. He visited the Lepakshi exhibition currently on at the A.P.NGOs' Association Kalyanamandapam. This exhibition will shift to Nannapaneni Kalyanamandapam near Bus Stand from January 8 to 13 to facilitate Sankranti buyers to visit the stalls, he said and added that cultural shows would be organised every day at the NGO Kalyana Mandapam from Sunday. In Andhra Pradesh there were 12 showrooms currently and it was planning to open a major one in Guntur if the Collector allocated 250 square yards of land identified near Taluka Police Station, he said.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/31/stories/2006123120390400.htm
`Blowing away' electricity crisis

HYDERABAD: Harnessing wind energy could pull the State out of the present power crisis while saving lots of expense currently being incurred on sourcing power from other States. Chennai-based Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), has in a message called upon policy makers, to explore wind energy as a way out of the crisis.

IWPA secretary-general V. Raghu said wind energy projects has low gestation period (less than six months), to commission about 100 megawatts of power. The wind energy fraternity was committed to provide green power at a tariff of Rs. 3.37 per unit over a 20-year span, he said.

Medical college to function from July
http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top

Adilabad, Dec. 31: District collector Ravala Subbarao on Sunday said the sanctioned medical college to the district would start functioning from July, 2007. Addressing a press conference here, the collector informed that they have received orders from the State government shifting medical staff including doctors of the headquarters hospital to the medical college. The headquarters hospital is being converted into a medical college and will be upgraded with construction of additional buildings.

Mr Rao said that it was good for the district that a medical college will come up and would fulfil the medical needs of the people. There would not be any problem in emergencies as medical services will be available at the hospital itself without having to go to distant places like Hyderabad or Nagpur in Maharashtra. On the occasion, the collector also reeled out a list of the developmental works they have taken up in the year 2006 in the district.

Free power to stay: CM
http://www.deccan.com/City/CityNews.asp

Hyderabad, Dec. 31: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy on Sunday announced that “bhoo yagnam”, resuming excess and assignment lands from the rich and distributing the same to the landless poor would be his priority agenda in the new year. Speaking to mediapersons here, the Chief Minister said he was satisfied with the progress of various development programmes of his government in 2006 and exuded confidence that that he would face every challenge with a strong will backed by people’s affection in the new year.

The Chief Minister said the government has already been implementing Jala Yagnam and Indiramma and the new year would see distribution of land to landless poor in a massive scale. Maintaining that some wanted to dilute the spirit of land distribution, the Chief Minister said the government was firm on the programme. He also sought to clarify that free power to farm sector would continue despite severe power crisis.

Earlier, in an open letter to people of Andhra Pradesh on New Year’s eve the Chief Minister said challenges were not new to him in his 27 years of political life. I always face them boldly and my strength lies in public support,” he said. Referring to Bharthruhari subhashitam, Dr Reddy said, “fools don’t start any work thinking that there would be hurdles, normal people start work but leave it when they face challenges. Only people with strong will complete the work overcoming all the obstacles.”

Dr Reddy also referred to CWC chairman Swapan Kumar Das appreciating the progress of irrigation projects in the State. Mr Das who was in the State to see the implementation of Gutpa, Alisagar and Godavari Lift irrigation scheme said nowhere in the country irrigation projects were constructed on such a massive scale. Dr Reddy also made it clear that he was always open to rectify his mistakes. “I feel that power is a crown with thorns and bow my head before law,” he said adding that he wished to remain as man of masses. He conveyed his new year wishes to all Telugu people and asked them to be vigilant on public spending.

how is gonna take away lands from the rich???? he has no right to do that??? just more political promises that can't be sustained...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/31/stories/2006123120390400.htm
`Blowing away' electricity crisis

AP never bothered all these years to tap wind energy as is being done by the neighbouring state of TN. A state which was boasting as the pioneer in power reforms and one of the earliest state to unbundle the electricity board in to three separate companies for generation,transmission and distribution is now facing the worst power crisis in winter after bountiful monsoon.Wrong planning and overdependence on gas based energy generation coupled with low generation of hydroelectric power to presrve water for the summer and the higher consumption due to free supply to the farmers are the causes.

And how sensible is it give free power even under these circumstances. Cutting off power supply to industries to uphold political promises is like killing the golden goose. How can we expect new industries to come without the basic infrastructure - power.

...Wrong planning and overdependence on gas based energy generation coupled with low generation of hydroelectric power to presrve water for the summer and the higher consumption due to free supply to the farmers are the causes.

I wouldn't really call this wrong planning.
With ever depleting reserves of coal, and increasing the cost of running and maintaining Thermal Power units, gas based energy made sense. Discovery of huge reserves of gas in KG basin justified this plan. Unfortunately, the gas production schedules got delayed, which was beyond the control of GoAP. Growing economic activity in the state is the primary cause for increase in consumption.

On the whole, its more like a kind of growing pains. and no other state in India seems to have much excess power generation at this time. may be in a couple of years time, AP would be better off. Till then, we grin and bear with it.

Wind energy - yes. this is one area GoAP should have done some thing earlier. they are looking into it now.
Solar energy - yes. recently there has been some news that a foreign company is setting shop in AP

GoAP is giving free power to farmers, as a part of its election promise.
But then, its not like a blanket permission to one and all.

First of all, GoAP forced the farmers to install better equipment like new capacitors and transformers to improve efficiency of their motors. This would benefit both GoAP and the faqrmers in a long run. Secondly, free power is given only under certain conditions (like farmers with only one pump set, drawing power not more than certain units per month/crop season) etc. Thirdly, free power is supplied only 7 hours a day.

Primary cause of this crisis seems to be the delay in supply of gas to the gas based generation systems. No one (including private power plants) could predict this problem 2-4 years ago, when they started building gas based power plants. This is beyond the control of GoAP.

Andhra may clock IT exports of Rs 19,000 cr
SREEKALA G TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JANUARY 02, 2007 01:25:44 AM]

HYDERABAD: Cyber-savvy Andhra Pradesh is giving a further leg-up to the IT industry by creating six satellite towns around Hyderabad and pushing creation of SEZs. These measures come in the backdrop of IT exports from the state positioned to clock a 51% growth in 2006-07 at Rs 19,000 crore against Rs 12,521 crore last year.

“The state’s share in national IT exports has increased from 8.62% to 12.39% in the last three years. Our immediate aim is to fill the gap between Andhra and other states in IT exports and to hike our share to over 15%,” Andhra’s IT secretary K Ratnaprabha told ET. The IT sector in the state has attracted an investment of over Rs 6,101 crore in 2005-06 and employs over 1.5 lakh people. By 2009, nearly 2.35 lakh people will be employed in IT in the state. At present, the software segment accounts for 68% of the IT exports from the state while ITeS contributes 32%.

The key role that the state is planning is to create infrastructure to fuel the growth targets. The state is keen on developing new IT growth centres near the international airport. To avoid urban clutter and to ensure uniform development in the city, the state is building satellite townships, which are away from the traditional IT centres. “We are developing six townships spread over 400 acre on the outer ring road.

TCS, Novartis, Infosys and Genpact have showed interest to become the anchor clients in four such centres. We have invited bids for the other two,” she said. Estimates show some 200 companies are knocking at the state’s doorstep for setting up facilities. This means Andhra is attracting one new IT company every second day. These townships, she said, would help strengthen the city’s infrastructure. “While about 25% of the township space will be occupied by IT companies, the rest will be available for other projects including residential complexes, hospitals and schools,” she said.Despite the concerns related to land acquisition, SEZ projects are also going on in full swing.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010205260400.htm
No additional burden on power users: YSR

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has made it clear that additional burden on account of power purchases from outside sources at a heavy cost will not be placed on consumers. Talking to reporters here on Monday, he also clarified that free power to agriculture would be continued at any cost but limited to seven hours a day. He admitted that a heavy power cut of 8-10 hours was imposed on villages and almost similarly for towns, to ensure supply to agricultural pumpsets.

Dr Reddy defended the heavy cut on villages, reasoning that uninterrupted supply of electricity would serve no purpose in villages. Restrictions would be imposed on illumination in urban areas and Government offices to save power for agriculture.

Additional funds : He said the Government would release Rs 1,150 crores in addition to the subsidy of Rs 1,350 crores already announced for this year, to enable AP Transco to absorb the additional burden due to purchases at heavy prices. The expenditure made on additional power purchases for December was Rs. 90 crores and this would be Rs 300 crores each for the next three months. With this, the subsidy allowed to farmers would reach a peak of Rs 4,000 crores. This implied a subsidy of Rs 10,000 on each pumpset. "Now where in the world such heavy subsidy be allowed for agriculture."

Another jolt : Meanwhile, the second units of Simhadri and Vijayawada power stations tripped on Monday, depriving the grid of 500 MW and 210 MW respectively during this crucial period.

This came as another jolt to the distribution system even as it was improving slightly following restoration of 435 MW at Kothagudem. The previous total loss of 1,035 MW was reduced to 600 MW following restoration of three out of service units at Kothagudem. But the figure touched 1,310 MW now following tripping of the two units at Simhadri and Vijayawada. The AP Transco said the two units were expected to resume generation in a day or two.
that would bring back the total loss of generation to 600MW.

Hyderabad not a real problem
Jinka Nagaraju [ 2 Jan, 2007 0149hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: When the Telangana issue gathered momentum after K Chandrasekhara Rao quit his Lok Sabha seat, it seemed that the real estate lobby was very upset. Cashing in on, and in fact fuelling the boom in Hyderabad, the realtors were upset that talk of a separate Telangana would apply a brake to the runaway realty prices. The thinking was that the Telangana issue would push Andhra Pradesh on the throes of civil disturbance, thereby affecting development in Hyderabad and hence land prices. Their apprehensions were not misplaced because in the past when ever the Telangana issue had reared its head, the first casualty has been the escalating real estate prices.

But two months later the real estate lobby is singing an entirely different tune. Let there be Telangana, and let this new state also have Hyderabad, is the latest refrain from the real estate lobby. Andhra can have a new capital, they say. And this capital should be built in the region of Vijayawada, spread over the sprawl between Mangalgiri to Gannavaram, is the contention.

Interestingly, when the Telangana issue came up at the time of the 2004 polls, Visakhapatnam was seen as the most serious contender for the capital of the bifurcated state (if it ever happened). In line with this thinking, the state government spawned development activities in a big way in Vizag post 2004. But the real estate lobby which stands to gain most if a new place is developed, is now pitching for Vijayawada as capital.

To sell their idea, they have also spawned the idea of a mega capital for Andhra rivalling and in fact, beating Chennai in size. "A new capital area means massive development and construction and real estate activities,"an analyst pointed out.

So successful has been the real estate lobby - including builders and contractors, some of whom are politically well connected - that even intellectuals, politicians and veterans of the erstwhile Jai Andhra movement have started mouthing these ideas.

Gas shortage affects power
PM News Bureau
Performance of power stations during the 10th Plan would have been much better but for shortage of natural gas. Despite this problem, the overall achievement in actual power generation in last 4½ years of the 10th Plan has been about 99 per cent of the generation target. In fact, during the last three years, the actual generation was more than the target or almost equal to the target. It may be noted that many of the gas-based projects could not be taken up for implementation due to uncertainty of gas availability and its price during the 10th Plan. Even the existing plants are not operating on full capacity due to non-availability of gas.

Presently, 13,581 mw capacity of combined cycle power projects exist, which are run on gas/liquid fuel. This includes 10,999 mw gas-based, which requires 53.52 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) at 90 per cent PLF. As against this requirement, the actual supply/availability has been 36.62 mmscmd as on September 30, 2006, leaving a shortage of around 17 mmscmd.[25 December 2006]nearly 30% shortage... at the national level.
AP's power problems have been worsened by the increase in demand and breakdowns at Thermal power units...

ONGC to produce gas at Turputallu
PM News Bureau ONGC plans to commence commercial production of gas at Turputallu in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna-Godavari onland basin in the first half of 2007-08.

The gas will be transported from the source of production to Gail's pipeline network through a connecting pipeline which will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 92 lakh. As per the latest information available, the onland block is estimated to have 72.1 million standard cubic metres. [25 December 2006]

Andhra may clock IT exports of Rs 19,000 cr
SREEKALA G TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JANUARY 02, 2007 01:25:44 AM]

Thats an impressive growth. Growth rate has exceeded expectations this time.
This is the first time i am seeing that IT exports is greater than ITES exports.

GoAP is giving free power to farmers, as a part of its election promise.
But then, its not like a blanket permission to one and all.

First of all, GoAP forced the farmers to install better equipment like new capacitors and transformers to improve efficiency of their motors. This would benefit both GoAP and the faqrmers in a long run. Secondly, free power is given only under certain conditions (like farmers with only one pump set, drawing power not more than certain units per month/crop season) etc. Thirdly, free power is supplied only 7 hours a day.

Primary cause of this crisis seems to be the delay in supply of gas to the gas based generation systems. No one (including private power plants) could predict this problem 2-4 years ago, when they started building gas based power plants. This is beyond the control of GoAP.

Please recollect the congress manifesto before coming to power.People's memory is not so short as u beleive. AP made a mistake in going for gas based power generation. The offshore strikes in our territorial water is owned by the GOI. AP shud have formed a company like was done by the Gujarat govt.Then along with the private players like reliance energy they could have participated in bids to explore and strike gas from its sites which could have been rightfully used and supplied to the pvt sector Gas based power generating companies here in our state.

AP's share in IT exports has increased from 8.39% to 12.5% in the past 3 years.....

that is awsome news. for next year, 26 to 27000 crore should be the minimum target.

AP's share in IT exports has increased from 8.39% to 12.5% in the past 3 years.....

that is awsome news. for next year, 26 to 27000 crore should be the minimum target.

may be we should wait for the exact figures for this year before considering figures for the next year.....btw good going hyd....

i wouldn't be surprised at all if the official confirmation too is around 19000 crore....and yes, around 27000 crore should be the target.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010316310300.htm
Rs 1,000 crores for Rajiv, Indira Sagar projects

KHAMMAM: The State Government would make a budgetary allocation of Rs 1000 crores during 2007-2008 for the implementation of the Rajiv Sagar (Dummugudem) lift irrigation project and Indira Sagar (Rudramkota) Lift Irrigation project in Khammam district.

The Chief Minister, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy gave a categorical assurance to a delegation of Congress MLAs from Khammam that met him in Hyderabad today, according to the Sathupalli MLA, Jalagam Venkata Rao.

Schedule :Quoting the Chief Minister, he said the works on both the lift schemes would be taken up before Ugadi, the Telugu New Year Day. The projects would be completed as per the schedule within two years.

By all means both the schemes would be made operational before Ugadi in 2009. Both the schemes would get an immediate budgetary allocation of Rs 500 crores each. He said that the delegation that included the Khammam zilla parishad chairperson, G. Vijayalakshmi, had requested the Chief Minister to set a date for the Bhumi Puja of the projects.

YSR thanked :The Chief Minister had laid the foundation stones for the two schemes on December 31, 2005. The schemes were expected to help extend irrigation facility to over 4 lakh acres in Khammam district alone. The delegation had thanked the Chief Minister for his initiative in monitoring the progress of the project works personally.

AP made a mistake in going for gas based power generation. The offshore strikes in our territorial water is owned by the GOI. AP shud have formed a company like was done by the Gujarat govt.Then along with the private players like reliance energy they could have participated in bids to explore and strike gas from its sites which could have been rightfully used and supplied to the pvt sector Gas based power generating companies here in our state.

AP is not alone in going in for gas based power plants. pl. see quote below for all India figures.

Looking back, it makes sense to beleive that AP shud have formed a gas exploration company... but, then Oil and gas exploration is a very expensive business and 8-9 years ago, no one knew for sure that they would discover so much gas reserves in K-G basin. As a policy, Govts are trying to detatch more from businesses and concentrate more on governing. Hence TDP govt decided to keep away from this and allowed Gujarat company and/or Reliance to do the exploration under contract to allow them to do the business. Any large scale business involves a lot of speculation and Govts shud not burden themselves with too much of such speculation - this is just one school of thought...

Gas shortage affects power
PM News Bureau
...Presently, 13,581 mw capacity of combined cycle power projects exist, which are run on gas/liquid fuel. This includes 10,999 mw gas-based, which requires 53.52 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) at 90 per cent PLF. As against this requirement, the actual supply/availability has been 36.62 mmscmd as on September 30, 2006, leaving a shortage of around 17 mmscmd.[25 December 2006]nearly 30% shortage... at the national level. Apart from this, AP's power problems have been worsened by the increase in demand and breakdowns at Thermal power units...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010302570200.htm
Nellore to get another apparel park

NELLORE: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy might lay the foundation stone to an apparel park at Chintavaram of Chillakur mandal on January 16. The 750-acre park, which consists of 20 textile units, will be set up by Sri Lankan-based MAS Holdings, investing $200 million. It will provide jobs to around 30,000 people while around 45,000 people will be employed indirectly.

Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation will initially set aside 750 acres at Chintavaram, Ballavolu and Addepalli villages near Gudur. The Government has also agreed to lay a 20-km road from the National Highway (NH-5) to the site.

Dr. Reddy had laid the foundation for the biggest spinning and textile park in India at Menakur on November 25. South India Mills Association of Coimbatore will set up 11 textile mills in one park spending Rs. 14,000 crore while Loyal Textile Mills Limited of Chennai will set up another park with Rs 150 crore.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010308270400.htm
Genco to meet LI schemes' needs

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation will meet more than 70 per cent of the power requirements of 17 upcoming lift irrigation schemes taken up under Jalayagnam.

It will take up four hydro-electric schemes on the multi-purpose major irrigation projects of Polavaram (installed capacity 960 MW), Dummagudem (360 MW), Singareddypalli (360 MW) and Pulichintala (120 MW) for execution, operation and maintenance.

With the power requirement of these 17 projects being assessed at 2,353 MW as against the availability 1,800 MW out of these hydel stations, there will be a shortage. This, however, will be met from other sources.

A decision to allocate the installed capacity of the hydel stations of Polavaram and other projects, to the lift schemes was taken by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy while reviewing the energy needs of the lift schemes with senior officials of AP Genco, AP Transco, and Irrigation Department here on Tuesday. Lift Irrigation Minister M. Mareppa said later that the meeting had estimated the funds required by AP Genco to execute the hydel projects at Rs 7,000 crores but asked the corporation to mobilise this money out of it own sources.

He said the free power supply, being allowed to farmers for agriculture purpose now, would be applicable to all their counterparts to be served by the lift schemes.

Andhra Bhoomi reports...
APSRTC plans to open 8 new depots in Hyd and 1 new depot in Bhupalapalli in Warangal district.
APSRTC plans to close 16 and downgrade 8, out of the total 212 depots across the state.(the following text contains most of the names of the depots effected.
thought, many Andhraites might like to know details. would translate if anyone wants...)
http://i18.tinypic.com/2vii0ef.jpg
http://i1.tinypic.com/4cxf7l5.jpg
http://i12.tinypic.com/4goyrd4.jpg

The textile industry in Andhra Pradesh after attracting many textile projects is all set to boom in the near future, industry sources said here on January 03.

The minister for textiles, G Vinod informed that 250-acre textile park being developed by Raheja Builder in Hindupur in Anantapur district would soon be granted the SEZ status and it would attract investments of Rs 500 crore.

The state government was also in the process of securing patent protection under the GI Act for Gadwal, Uppada and Dharmavaram techniques of weaving for helping traditional weaving communities to market their products effectively.

The Coimbatore-based Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) is investing Rs 1,200 crore and Chennai-based Loyal Textiles Mills is planning to pump in Rs 100 crore in Nellore.

Mas Holdings of Sri-Lanka has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state for a Rs 1,500 crore park in Nellore, while Noida based Vrindavan Ltd is setting up a project in Chittoor with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

Also Brandix Lanka is setting up a 1,000 acre garment special economic zone in Visakhapatnam at an investment of Rs 2,500 crore.

The minister further added that even Hyderabad is attracting many textile projects. Gokaldas Exports has set up a production facility at Nacharam near Hyderabad at an investment of Rs 25 crore and Govindaraja Textiles is also planning to invest Rs 120 crore on a textile park in Pulivendula near Hyderabad.

http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2002601

Soma Enterprise bags 5 road projects worth Rs 1200cr in AP

Source: Moneycontrol.com (http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressnews/somaenterpriseinfrastructuredevelopers/somaenterprisebags5roadprojectsworthrs1200crap/market/stocks/article/259887)
Soma Enterprise Ltd., one of India’s leading infrastructure developers, today announced that it has been awarded five road projects, worth over Rs.1, 200 crore, in Andhra Pradesh. The projects include the four stretches totaling Rs. 744 crore on the Hyderabad - Bangalore Highway, awarded to the joint venture of Soma Enterprise and China Gezhouba Water & Power (Group) Co. Ltd. (CGGC) on a Cash Contract Basis and the Rs.460 crore Hyderabad - Nagpur (AP–6) Project on BOT (Annuity) basis awarded to the consortium of Soma Enterprise and Avinash Bhosale.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ankineedu Maganti, Director, Soma Enterprise Ltd, said, “The Government’s decision to promote the PPP route in infrastructure development has created a lot of opportunity for infrastructure developers like us, especially in the roads and highways sector. We are presently executing roads and highway projects worth over Rs.1400 crore across the country and are actively looking at expanding our presence in the sector. With the addition of these projects, our current order book in Roads has crossed Rs. 2500 crores”.

“These five road projects awarded to us are extremely significant, as these will enhance connectivity between the three strategic cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore and Nagpur. The improved connectivity will lead to trade and economic growth in these cities, by giving impetus to local industries. While Hyderabad is an important center for the pharmaceutical, IT, silk and handloom industries, Bangalore is India’s IT hub and Nagpur is one of India’s largest manufacturing centers and is fast developing as a cargo hub for the country. In view of our past track record, we are hopeful of completing these before the stipulated completion period”.

The details of the project are:

Part of the North - South Corridor on NH-7 in Andhra Pradesh, the Hyderabad - Bangalore Project involves four-laning of four stretches from 211 km - 251 km, 251 km - 293.4 km, 376 km - 418 km and 418 km - 463.6 km. The construction period for the all the projects is 30 months.

The Hyderabad-Nagpur Project on NH-7 involves four-laning of the Maharashtra/Andhra Pradesh Border road in Islam Nagar from 175 km to 230 km. The scope of work on the 55 kms stretch includes construction of 3 major bridges, 9 minor bridges and 77 culverts. The concession period for the project is 20 years, including construction period of 24 months.

The textile industry in Andhra Pradesh after attracting many textile projects is all set to boom in the near future, industry sources said here on January 03.

The minister for textiles, G Vinod informed that 250-acre textile park being developed by Raheja Builder in Hindupur in Anantapur district would soon be granted the SEZ status and it would attract investments of Rs 500 crore.

The state government was also in the process of securing patent protection under the GI Act for Gadwal, Uppada and Dharmavaram techniques of weaving for helping traditional weaving communities to market their products effectively.

The Coimbatore-based Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) is investing Rs 1,200 crore and Chennai-based Loyal Textiles Mills is planning to pump in Rs 100 crore in Nellore.

Mas Holdings of Sri-Lanka has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state for a Rs 1,500 crore park in Nellore, while Noida based Vrindavan Ltd is setting up a project in Chittoor with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

Also Brandix Lanka is setting up a 1,000 acre garment special economic zone in Visakhapatnam at an investment of Rs 2,500 crore.

The minister further added that even Hyderabad is attracting many textile projects. Gokaldas Exports has set up a production facility at Nacharam near Hyderabad at an investment of Rs 25 crore and Govindaraja Textiles is also planning to invest Rs 120 crore on a textile park in Pulivendula near Hyderabad.

http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2002601

The textile minister is saying the same for the past 2.5 years.Brandix textile park at vizag is already behind schedule.seeing Brandix we don't know how long it will take for other projects to come up.

YSR surrenders 997 acre family land (http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=270234&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has surrendered 997 acres of his family land to the state government. Last month, he had surrendered 310 acres to the government.

Disclosing this here today, the state revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao appealed to all those having lands in violation of agriculture land cieling act and assgined lands act to follow the example of the chief minister and give away those lands to the government voluntarily to avert any action by the government.

It may be recalled that during a heated debate in the state legislative assembly last month over 310 acre land held illegally by the chief minister's family, YSR himself had admitted that his family was in possession of close to 1000 acre land more in Kadapa district.

The state government willl soon issue a notification asking the indiviauls to valuntarily disclose and surrnder surplus or assigned lands in any in thier possession or face the action. According to the minister, all those having lands in violation of state legislations will be given 90 days time to surrender the same to the authorities.


Hundreds of politicians like him have amassed massive tracts of land in all parts of the country, and then these buggers harrass the private enterprise for being too greedy.

The textile industry in Andhra Pradesh after attracting many textile projects is all set to boom in the near future, industry sources said here on January 03.

The minister for textiles, G Vinod informed that 250-acre textile park being developed by Raheja Builder in Hindupur in Anantapur district would soon be granted the SEZ status and it would attract investments of Rs 500 crore.

The state government was also in the process of securing patent protection under the GI Act for Gadwal, Uppada and Dharmavaram techniques of weaving for helping traditional weaving communities to market their products effectively.

The Coimbatore-based Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) is investing Rs 1,200 crore and Chennai-based Loyal Textiles Mills is planning to pump in Rs 100 crore in Nellore.

Mas Holdings of Sri-Lanka has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state for a Rs 1,500 crore park in Nellore, while Noida based Vrindavan Ltd is setting up a project in Chittoor with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

Also Brandix Lanka is setting up a 1,000 acre garment special economic zone in Visakhapatnam at an investment of Rs 2,500 crore.

The minister further added that even Hyderabad is attracting many textile projects. Gokaldas Exports has set up a production facility at Nacharam near Hyderabad at an investment of Rs 25 crore and Govindaraja Textiles is also planning to invest Rs 120 crore on a textile park in Pulivendula near Hyderabad.
http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2002601

bringing Brandix Lanka to Vizag is a major acheivement. this is going to open a whole new dimension in garments industry in Vizag, apart from generating direct and indirect employment for skilled and semi-skilled work forces.

as usual, there have been issues with R&R, PCB etc. but the good news is, its still "ON" and its coming up soon!

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=269918&subLeft=1&leftnm=3
Andhra Pradesh allows power generation using naphtha
BS Reporter / Chennai/Hyderabad January 02, 2007
Rule relaxed in the face of acute power crisis.
Due to the acute power shortage during the ongoing rabi season, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to allow the private gas power producers to generate close to 300 Mw of additional power using naphtha. The electricity thus produced would cost the power utilities close to Rs 6.50 per unit, according to officials.

The 216-Mw GVK Power has commenced generation, though for a brief period, using naphtha on one of its turbines, which has been idle due to non-availability of gas. It is learnt that the APTransco is currently negotiating with Lanco and Spectrum Power for a similar arrangement. It may be recalled that the four existing independent power producers (IPPs) — GVK, Lanco Kondapally, Spectrum and Reliance — which have a combined installed capacity of 999 Mw, are currently producing only around 500 MW of power due to the shortage of gas.

The state government has relaxed the alternate fuel clause, which effectively closes the doors on using any expensive fuel such as naphtha in place of gas, to allow the existing gas-based power plants to generate additional power. However, the government at no cost will relax the rule with regard to any new IPPs in the state.

The government has decided to spend a whopping Rs 1,150 crore on power purchases in addition to the Rs 1,300 crore subsidy committed to the power utilities this year, of which Rs 470 crore is expected to be spent exclusively on naphtha-based power during the three-month period up to March 2007, according to APTransco officials. Though the companies already have certain amount of naphtha reserves at their disposal, they will need more considering the huge power generation target before them.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), one of the suppliers of naphtha in the state, produces between 75,000 tonne and 80,000 tonne of the fuel every month at its Vizag refinery and exports almost 90 per cent of it to Gulf countries. “We are exporting naphtha because there is not much demand for the same in the domestic market, except some small quantities required by the fertilisers units.The company is ready to supply naphtha to power plants if they approach us,” PAB Raju, general manager, HPCL's Vizag refinery, told Business Standard. According to him, the price of naphtha in the international market is currently hovering around Rs 25,000 per tonne. About 6 units(KwH) of power is expected to be generated from 1 kg of naphtha. When contacted, a representative of Spectrum Power (SPGL) said though they were approached by the APTransco officials for naphtha fired power at our plant, the company is yet to receive any formal letter from the latter.

Meanwhile, some industry quarters have expressed reservations about the current contingency plan unveiled by the APTransco. Instead of buying naphtha-based power, the state government can as well allow the IPPs to buy gas from Ravva fields and request companies like Nagarjuna Fertilisers to temporarily stop the usage of gas for the sake of power generation. It may be recalled that the APTransco recently asked the IPPs not to buy gas from Ravva oil fields in protest against the price hike by Cairn energy. Compared with the cost of naphtha the enhanced rate of $ 4.5 per MMBTU of gas would be still cheaper, they argue.

Chennai-based Indian Wind Power Association in a press release said the power crisis in Andhra was purely its own making since the state power utility refused to recognise the importance of wind power and act accordingly. While the association said that the companies were ready to create 150 Mw wind power capacity per year in the state provided the government offered a levellised tariff of Rs 3.37 per unit spanning 20 years, the government, however, is not willing to pay more than Rs 3 per unit to any non-conventional energy facilities including windmills.

Govt to complete AP power plant bidding by March-end
BS Reporter / New Delhi January 04, 2007
After wrapping up the first two ultra mega power projects (UMPP) last month in Sasan (Madhya Pradesh) and Mundra (Gujarat), the central government is on its way to complete the bidding process of the third such project at Krishnapatanam in Andhra Pradesh. Based on imported coal, the 4,000 Mw ultra mega project will be the first in South India.

The government today issued a request for proposals to 13 qualified bidders, though there were 17 qualified bidders in all. Most of the companies that have evinced interest in the AP project are the ones which were keen to build the Sasan and Mundra projects like Tata Power, Lanco, L&T, Reliance Energy, Essar Power, Sterlite Industries, NTPC and Torrent Power.
http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=270206&subLeft=1&leftnm=3

Karnataka faces power shortage
BS Reporter / Chennai/Bangalore January 2, 2007
With power consumption reaching 140 million units per day, Karnataka is planning to approach the power surplus states to augment supply during summer. The financial implication is estimated to be around Rs 200 crore per month. Karnataka generates 117 million units of power per day, including the Central grid's contribution. Since power consumption has gone up by 20 per cent this year, the government can meet the demand by purchasing power or resort to load shedding.

In an effort to identify a feasible approach to tackle the problem, the state cabinet on Friday constituted a cabinet sub-committee. “The sub-committee will decide whether power should be purchased to augment supply. The panel will submit its report by weekend to initiate further action,” Karnataka's primary and secondary education minister Basavaraja Horatti told reporters.

The government may approach Kerala or Orissa, which are producing surplus power. “Consumers are charged Rs 3.15 per unit of power by the electricity supply companies whereas the state has to purchase power at a rate of Rs 6.25 per unit. The government has to bear the additional burden,” he noted. The minister pointed out that the government may resort to selective load-shedding depending on the demand for power. “If we are able to mobilise Rs 200 crore to meet the demand for power, there may be not be load-shedding. The cabinet sub-committee will take a final decision in this regard,” he added.
AP is not alone with power problems...

Pantaloon to expand Big Bazaar network (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/06/stories/2007010601040200.htm)


Pantaloon Retail (India) is planning to increase the size of Big Bazaar network from 41 at present to 100 in the next nine months with an estimated investment of Rs 1,000 crore. The number of Big Bazaars in the South would go up to 30 from the present 11.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday to mark the launch of the 41st mart in the country, Mr Rohit Malhotra, Head of Operations (South), said the company would also focus on Tier-II cities for expanding the `value retailing' format, besides strengthening its presence in major cities. It would open 5-7 more Big Bazaars in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Exclusive Outlets

The 52,000-square feet shop, the second one in the city, put on display more than 1.6-lakh products. "It will house the complete range of products that a middle-class household needs," he said.

The Big Bazaar network contributed a turnover of Rs 2,000 crore last year, with the South contributing Rs 800 crore. The second store in Hyderabad was set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The company targeted to register Rs 100 crore turnover at the shop.

F the power subsidies. the country keeps going into deep shit with power problems and the whole system of subsidies is so inefficient that Govt has to bear the burden of majority of the power plants......not cool.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Cons_Products/Garments__Textiles/Rahejas_await_SEZ_status_for_AP_textile_park/articleshow/1042555.cms


Rahejas awaitig SEZ approval.



the no. of textile projects coming up is amazing and that too with huge investments!!!!

I say they should allow multiple power companies, not to mention more on-site generation systems.

Satyam is top IT exporter from Andhra Pradesh
BS Reporter / Hyderabad January 06, 2007
The Andhra Pradesh government today announced the awards for top performers in the IT, ITeS and hardware sectors for 2005-06. The awards will be given away on the opening day of the annual IT expo, GITEX India-2007, on January 9, 2007.

Hyderabad-based Satyam Computer Services has once again been awarded the top exporter in the IT sector with a turnover of Rs 1,987.3 crore followed by Wipro with Rs 1,221.46 crore.

Microsoft India (R&D) has been ranked as the top MNC exporter in the IT sector with a gross turnover of Rs 720.50 crore followed by Oracle India with a turnover of Rs 229.99 crore from the Andhra operations.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/07/stories/2007010703000600.htm
YSR seeks Rs. 607 crore refund from GAIL
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has renewed his plea to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murali Deora for refunding Rs. 607 crore "unjustly collected" by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) from Transco as "gas transmission charges" without supplying gas.

Dr. Reddy also sought proper supply from GAIL to the gas-based power projects in the State as committed in the purchase agreements and reduction in the price of gas produced at Ravva Fields. He addressed three separate letters to the Union Minister on Saturday, highlighting the power crisis faced by the State due to improper gas supply and unfair deal by GAIL.

The Chief Minister said that GAIL had collected higher gas transmission charges from the Transco even while keeping its pipelines idle. A group headed by the Member (Energy), Planning Commission, acting upon Transco's complaint, ruled that the over-payments received by the GAIL (Rs. 607 crore) be refunded.

The GAIL representatives did not respond. He wanted the Minister re-examine the issue. In a separate letter, Dr Reddy said an installed capacity of 1,271 MW of the existing plants and 1,499 MW of the four just-completed projects was lying idle due to inadequate gas supply, leading to an unprecedented power crisis. The State was now forced to purchase power from outside at a high price of Rs 6.50 per unit causing an additional burden of Rs 1,200 crore on the exchequer, he said.

sweet......keep wasting thousands of crores bc of populist schemes...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/08/stories/2007010806780400.htm
Krishnapatnam thermal plant by 2010

NELATUR (NELLORE): Krishnapatnam Thermal Power Station of 1,600 MW capacity might be commissioned by 2010, APGenco Managing Director Ajay Jain said. He announced this after the public hearing on the proposed 2X800 MW coal-based Super Critical Thermal Power Station. The first unit might be commissioned by May 2010 and the second one by November 2011, he added.

He assured the locals that Genco would commission the thermal power project only after meeting the standards stipulated on environmental protection by the State and Central Pollution Control Boards as well as Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Mr. Jain suggested that a five-member committee comprising locals, representatives from political parties and organisations like Jana Vignana Vedika be constituted to assess its environmental impact.

The committee after visiting all thermal power stations could submit a report with recommendations, which could be used to address problems pertaining to the pollution.

Compensation : Regarding compensation package to oustees, he said the Government would pay as per the agreement between farmers and the district administration.

The authorities had paid around Rs. 28 crores as compensation while around Rs. 100-crore bank loan was taken compensate all those whose lands would be acquired for the Super Critical Thermal Power Station.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/08/stories/2007010805970600.htm
Andhra Pradesh seeks 800 MW from Centre

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government has requested the Centre to allocate 800 MW of additional power to overcome the ongoing crisis in the power sector and mitigate the hardship faced by farmers.

It wanted the Centre to consider giving 500 MW of unallocated power from the southern region and another 300 MW from the eastern region to bridge the demand supply gap till May this year and help tide over the power crisis that would increase in the ensuing rabi months.

In separate letters addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said while Andhra Pradesh was getting 180 MW of unallocated power, other southern States like Karnataka (328 MW), Tamil Nadu (334 MW) and Kerala (293 MW) were getting more. These States were taking advantage of this and selling power to Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding Tamil Nadu and Kerala offered 100 MW to 400 MW to Andhra Pradesh during January.

The Chief Minister who reviewed the power situation with senior officials on Sunday instructed them to conduct a campaign to create awareness among the people and farmers about the difficulties and ensure that they adopt conservation methods. He made it clear that the Government was firm on giving seven-hour supply to the farm sector. Reiterating the Government's commitment not to pass on the burden to consumers, he asked the officials to take the crisis as a challenge and alert farmers whenever there were technical difficulties in supply.

Bowing to TU pressure, APSRTC puts off restructuring for now
KVVV Charya
Hyderabad Yielding to the demands of the agitating trade unions, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has decided to go easy on the proposed restructuring programme for now. Though, it had already closed 13 depots and three more are on the verge of closure, the management has decided to apply the brakes. "The restructuring proposal was temporarily stopped," APSRTC managing director Dinesh Reddy said. The corporation has appointed a six-member committee with trade union leaders and APSRTC officials to review the entire plan besides visiting the loss-making depots and submit its recommendations to the management.

The depot visits will be for exploring the opportunities to enhance their profitability. Nageshwar Rao, president, National Mazdoor Union (NMU) and also a member in the six-member committee said the committee was expected to submit its report in the next two to three months. He said the management had agreed to provide 'acceptable rehabilitation' to those temporary and contract employees who may be losing jobs due to the restructuring. Interestingly, the unions have successfully stalled the reform process for the third time since the Implementation Secretariat (IS) had put APSRTC under the reform agenda. Though IS had prepared the plan to split the corporations into four independent companies, on the lines of the electricity board unbundling, the then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu rejected the idea since the state was in the verge of general elections.

Similarly, even Rajasekhara Reddy had to issue 'stop orders' in 2005 and now, APSRTC, a monolithic organisation, has a fleet strength of about 17,500 buses and employs nearly 1,33,000 people. This is the largest corporation in the field of transport services in the country. Today, the corporation has 211 bus depots and operates in 23 regions, six zones besides six zonal workshops, one bus body building workshop and a printing press. In a bid to cool the agitating workers, the management had appointed IIM-Bangalore to study the options for making the corporation profitable. The present restructuring plan is part of the recommendations made by IIM-Bangalore, sources said. The proposal is to reduce the number of depots to bring down the fixed and administrative costs.
URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=151054
Many small time transport operators are making profit all over the state.
APSRTC manages to make losses and do nothing to improve.
They should find ways to cut losses instead of closing depots.

i say, close down loss making routes in and around the major cities/towns. and give the RTC employees VRS in these loss making routes.

There are many private transport operators operating on the side lines/bad routes and still making profits. There is demand. There is traffic.

Most of the problems with APSRTC are related to inefficiency at operational level (supervisors, depot managers etc). Most of them have political connections and private businesses. They just don't care. APSRTC needs a shake up at the mid level.

NTR revamped APSRTC in a big way in the early 80s. They even computerised depot level operations like Ticket Issue (bundles to conductors) and Accounting System, Vehicle Maintenance Tracking System, Personnel Mgmt System etc. many other state RTCs used to visit APSRTC to study their opeartions.
APSRTC used to make huge profits from early 80s upto late 90s.

Road Transportation is an essential infra for the rural masses. If they can't make it even, they should get some central subsidies. Closing down bus rotes could dampen the economy in those areas.

Sunday, January 07, 2007
Essel Group's Fun Multiplex
In a bid to become the country's largest movie theatre chain, Fun Multiplex, part of the $5 billion Essel Group of Industries, plans to open 50 family entertainment centres across Andhra Pradesh with an investment of over Rs.2.5 billion in the next three years.

Fun Multiplex is one of the leading players in multiplex business with 40 screens at 12 locations across India. The company is targeting about 175 screens at forty locations by 2008.

"Fun Multiplex will set up entertainment centres, transforming the entertainment landscape of Andhra Pradesh," said a company statement here Sunday. Each project will have a multi-screen theatre, shopping complex, food court and gaming zones. "The target is to introduce world-class multiplexes in the state, adding more than 200 theatre screens in small and big cities," it added.

The Essel Group is already undertaking similar projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan, with a total investment of about Rs.10 billion. The company has called for Expression of Interest (EOI) for these projects for buying or leasing of land, joint development and tie-up with local developers to facilitate construction process.

"With a vibrant multi-lingual audience, Andhra Pradesh is an attractive market for multiplexes. We intend to make a long-term business investment commitment in the state," said Fun Multiplex CEO Atul Goel.

Fun Multiplex is one of the leading players in multiplex business with 40 screens at 12 locations across India. The company is targeting about 175 screens at forty locations by 2008.
Source: IANS
http://www.cyberabadtimes.net/2007/01/essel-groups-fun-multiplex.asp

eenadu.net reports...

CM expressed anger (agraham) at cancellation of bus services to some villages due to closure APSRTC depots.
Transport minister Kanna reviews status with APSRTC officials and orders to restart all services.

Essel plans to set up 50 multiplex malls in AP (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/10/stories/2007011000972100.htm)


Fun Multiplex, part of the $5 billion, Essel Group, will open 50 family entertainment centres across Andhra Pradesh with an investment more than 250 crore within a period of 3 years.

The initiative to establish multiplexes in Andhra Pradesh is part of the company's efforts to become the country's largest movie theatre chain. Each project will have a multi-screen cinema, shopping complex, food court and gaming zones.

The target is to open world-class multiplexes in the entire AP, adding more than 200 cinema screens in the small and big cities of the State. The Group is already executing similar projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan, with a total investment of approximately Rs 1,000 crore.

The company has called for EOI's (Express of Interest) for these projects for buying or leasing of land, joint development and tie-up with local developers to facilitate construction. The company has received serious queries from many retailers, who are keen to exploit the synergy that this expansion offers, a press release said.

"AP is an attractive market for cinemas, with its cities having a vibrant multi-lingual audience, offering strong exhibition potential not only for Telugu movies, but also for regional and Hindi movies. It is a market, where we intend to make a deep and long term business investment commitment," Mr Atul Goel, CEO, Fun Multiplex said.

"The company is also planning to have 300 digital screens which would be spread in those areas where the company does not have multiplex or budget cinemas," the Vice President, Mr Manish Dhoot, said.

it is interesting to study how multiplexes can develop small economies in and aound the location where they are situated. i have seen in Delhi where fast food chains, restaurants, and etc grow rapidly. it is almost like a mini economy of its own, creating jobs for couple of hundred atleast, if not more.

In two years, several new small cars will be seen rolling on Indian roads. But a significant model just might drive out of Andhra Pradesh. CNBC-TV18 gives the details.



What does a Rs 78-crore component maker, Lokesh Machines have in common with multi-billion dollar companies like Honda and Toyota? They're all developing small cars for India. It's a segment comprising 70% of Indian car sales.



Lokesh Machines, a non-entity, plans a petrol and diesel model. The diesel variant will have a 1,500 cc engine and the petrol one will sport a 1,190 cc engine. They will attract 16% tax, against 24% for more powerful engines. A prototype will be ready in six months and the commercial launch is due early next year.



The platform for the car has been sourced from a European firm. Lokesh Machines might also source engine technology from Europe, but it will localise it. Former Hyuundai Motor chief, BVR Subbu will head the car-making venture MLR Motors, whose production base is likely to come up on a 225-acre plot in Andhra Pradesh's Medak district.



The car is expected to compete with the Santro, Wagon-R and Indica, and possibly the new models from Honda and Toyota. So stiff competition will greet the project. But if it drives through it all, it would be another proud achievement for an Indian carmaker, and, of course, a feather in Andhra Pradesh's cap.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/10/stories/2007011006680300.htm
Rs. 584 cr. for floodbank
Rajahmundry: Minister for Roads and Buildings Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao has said that the Government has given administrative sanction for Rs.584.32 crores for standardizing the Godavari floodbanks to 1986 flood levels. He said that the amount would be spent on raising, repairs to structures, construction of new structures, formation of ramps etc. indicated in Expert Committee recommendations within overall budget of the Irrigation Department.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday the Minister said the Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation), Irrigation and Command Area Development would take action in spending the amount. Under Vasistha Rivar Right and Left Banks there were four packages each, and Vynatheyan there were two packages. Like this in East Godavari there would be eight projects and in West three projects would be executed with this Rs. 548.32 crores, he added. The length of the bund would be 409.70 km.

Polavaram bund :The Head Works Executive Engineer said that they would raise Godavari bunds by two meters. He disclosed that there was provision for releasing funds for 150-year-old Polavaram west bund. According to officials, last date for tenders was January 17.
Rs 548 crores is less than 10% of one year's (2006) budget (Rs. 6,734 crores) of Jalayagnam.
This is all the congress govt could do to save the rice bowl districts from floods and devastation.
Would the ppl of coastal districts reward congress govt for this?

In two years, several new small cars will be seen rolling on Indian roads. But a significant model just might drive out of Andhra Pradesh. CNBC-TV18 gives the details.

...They're all developing small cars for India.

...A prototype will be ready in six months and the commercial launch is due early next year.

...production base is likely to come up on a 225-acre plot in Andhra Pradesh's Medak district.
...it would be another proud achievement for an Indian carmaker
... of course, a feather in Andhra Pradesh's cap.
this is a great news for AP.
looks like they are primarily aiming at local (Indian) market - so sea port may not be an issue.
they could use the National Highways and Indian Railways for distribution network.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/10/stories/2007011028050400.htm
RTC to reintroduce vestibule buses on city roads soon

HYDERABAD: Vestibule buses may soon be introduced on the city roads. Plans are afoot by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation to re-introduce the buses in the city region. The move is aimed at helping the increasing number of commuters on high-density corridors.

Between the years 2001 and 2004, a vestibule bus was operated on a pilot basis on three routes - No. 187-D (JNTU-Dilsukhnagar), No. 3 (Kushaiguda-Afzalgunj) and No.113K (Uppal-Kukatpally). But the drawback was lack of manoeuvrability on congested roads as compared to the roads now, said City Regional Manager C. Pandu Ranga Murthy. The 15-metre long bus has two 61 passenger-seater compartments. Besides the problem with manoeuvrability it was also found that it consumed more diesel than conventional buses. Above all, it needs two conductors.

"We operated the bus since it was provided free of cost by the Ashok Leyland for test runs. In terms of economy, the bus was packed to the brim in peak hours but occupancy came down to 50 per cent in slack hours. Even then it was satisfactory," said an RTC senior official.

The proposal to provide exclusive bus lanes for RTC buses fuelled the proposal to re-introduce the bus again. These buses are already running in Chennai and Bangalore on outer ring roads and wide roads, which according to RTC officials is ideal for operations to generate more earnings. "Led by Managing Director V. Dinesh Reddy, we will soon carry out a week-long inspection on operations of these buses in Chennai and Bangalore and then take a decision," he added.

Andhra bhoomi reports ...
Jalayagnam project would benefit Telangana most. Telangana districts are going to become the rice bowls. The two Godavari districts which are leading so far, would go down to 10th and 11th positions ...
The first five positions will go to Telangana districts... (rankings based on area of land coming under irrigation).

http://i16.tinypic.com/2vt9vs8.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/4cc9mqb.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/2zzopsn.jpg
would the Andhra districts reward congress for this ...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/11/stories/2006011108070400.htm
Jalayagnam a farce, says BJP leader

HYDERABAD : The State BJP has alleged that the much-hyped `Jalayagnam' launched to complete pending irrigation projects by 2009 became a `farce' with the Government unable to cross any of the milestones it fixed for itself.

Addressing a press conference, BJP State secretary N.V.S.S. Prabhakar said the fact that the Government could not spend Rs. 2,800 crores of the Rs. 6,734 crores allotted for irrigation in the budget ending March 2006 reflects its own poor performance. ...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/24/stories/2006102407840400.htm
Huge thrust for irrigation
HYDERABAD: The World Bank has cleared Rs. 3,600-crore assistance to Andhra Pradesh to modernise Nagarjunasagar canals and to launch a major project to construct several minor irrigation dams in a single go.

The sanctioning of the massive sum was conveyed to senior officials by the bank's team led by its Managing Director Graeme Wheeler during a presentation here on Monday on the thrust given to irrigation by the Government for agricultural purposes.

Of this, Rs. 2,600 crores will be for modernisation of Sagar canals and Rs. 1,000 crores for construction of minor irrigation dams. The funds are expected to flow in shortly, highly-placed sources told The Hindu. About Rs. 160 crores of Sagar funds will be spent to repair and rehabilitate the dam itself.

This is the largest amount ever sanctioned by the bank to the State's irrigation sector. During the presentation, Satish Chandra, Secretary, Irrigation, explained as to how Jalayagnam was taken up for construction of 32 major and 16 medium projects at a cost of Rs. 60,000 crores.

He said the expenditure made on Jalayagnam would reach Rs. 1,600 crores by March 2007. Plans were afoot to allot Rs. 13,000 crores in the budget for next fiscal ...

URL: http://www.flonnet.com/fl2209/stories/20050506001403400.htm
WATER RESOURCES
Andhra Pradesh's case W. CHANDRAKANTH in Hyderabad

ANDHRA PRADESH is gearing up to complete 16 irrigation projects, including five ongoing ones, on the Krishna river within the next three years in order to consolidate its arguments in favour of converting the "liberty" clause incorporated in the Bachawat Award into a "right". The State is racing against time as once the objections raised by Karnataka to the projects announced by the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy-led Congress government go to the newly constituted Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT), the award could go either way.

Not much water has flowed down the Krishna basin in Andhra Pradesh, not in the past six years at least, owing to the irrigation projects that have come up or are proposed for construction in the Upper Krishna basin in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

According to Andhra Pradesh, the other riparian States have virtually redrawn the course of the river. Instead of flowing into the Bay of Bengal, the river now seems to be smugly ending its course in the Alamatti reservoir in Karnataka with insignificant inflows into Andhra Pradesh, it says. Another hurdle in the course of the Krishna was put up by Maharashtra, which diverted the river westward from Koyna by adding new hydel projects.

Quick to wake up to the impending crisis, the Congress government has gone ahead with its election promise of completing all pending projects, including the linking of the Krishna and the Godavari rivers. Project `Jalayagnam' will see the completion of 31 irrigation projects at a projected cost of Rs.46,000 crores. In the past 50 years, a total ayacut of 65 lakh acres (26 lakh hectares) was developed in the State. Jalayagnam, which is to be completed in five years, is expected to double the area under irrigation...

AP GENCO to construct power units
PM News Bureau
Andhra Pradesh GENCO will finalise terms for construction of various projects in the state. It will take up the construction of power units and generate power to meet the demand of irrigation schemes.

A committee under the head of principal secretary of energy has been set up to study various options of setting up the projects and generating power. According to the committee the Pulichintala, Indira Sagar (Polavaram), Dummugudem hydroelectric and Singareddypally projects are expected to generate 1,800 mw power once completed. It is concluded that most of these projects should be completed by 2008-09.
[08 January 2007]

Andhra Bhoomi reports...
Central Urban dev minister S. Jaipal Reddy and other leaders informed reporters that the PM has agreed in principle to develop Hyderabad - Vijayawada section of NH9 into a 4 lane highway...

Replying to their request, the PM said that the survey for these works are in progress and also assured them that the funds will be allocated to start works, as soon as the survey is completed...
http://i1.tinypic.com/3y5h53r.jpg

Reddy to lay stone for textile unit in Nellore (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/15/stories/2007011501460200.htm)


The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, will lay the foundation stone for MAS Holdings (Textiles and Garments Unit) at Chintavaram, Chillakur (M), Nellore District on Tuesday.

This project was grounded in a record time and is expected to see total investment of Rs 1,000 crore with an employment potential of over 30,000 in the next five years.

The memorandum of understanding for the project was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister on December 14, 2006.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office here today, Dr Reddy will leave for Anantapur from Chintavaram and unveil the statue of late Sri Ananta Venkata Reddy, former MP and visit the Assad farm.

Later, he would lay the foundation stone for Nike garments manufacturing unit near Hindupur.

The Indus Fila Garment Project, along with other new initiatives in garment sector, is taken up in the backward areas of Hindupur to generate employment opportunities in textiles and garment sector.

The Bangalore-based Indus Fila has units at Nelamangala, Penya and Nanjangud (Mysore) in Karnataka supplying garments to global sportswear such as Nike. It has proposed to invest Rs 59 crore in the project.

Meanwhile, the proposed Apparel SEZ Project would be taken up by K Raheja Group at the Industrial Park, at Hindupur (Tummakunta) in over 350 acres with an investment of Rs 250 crore. The project has potential to create some 45,000 jobs in five years.

Reddy to lay stone for textile unit in Nellore (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/15/stories/2007011501460200.htm)

Its good to know that Hindupur is picking up slowly but steadily.

... he would lay the foundation stone for Nike garments manufacturing unit near Hindupur.

... The Bangalore-based Indus Fila has units at Nelamangala, Penya and Nanjangud (Mysore) in Karnataka supplying garments to global sportswear such as Nike. It has proposed to invest Rs 59 crore in the project.

Meanwhile, the proposed Apparel SEZ Project would be taken up by K Raheja Group at the Industrial Park, at Hindupur (Tummakunta) in over 350 acres with an investment of Rs 250 crore. The project has potential to create some 45,000 jobs in five years.

i think the whole region in AP bordering TN, and close to Chennai, has the potential to become a textile and/or manufacturing hub, given the govt formulates attractive policies and incentives for the industries, and def improve road, water, power, and other such infrastructure.

Sunday, January 14, 2007
Taking outsourcing to the countryside
The village of Ethakota in India's Andhra Pradesh state hardly looks like a place that has been transformed by the Information Revolution. "If work can shift from the U.S. to a city in India, why can't work from cities in India shift to villages in India?" says Ramalinga Raju
To get there, you take a 10-hour train ride from Hyderabad the nearest big city then drive an hour on narrow roads past rice paddies, coconut groves and ponds teeming with prawns and crabs. The village itself is a collection of simple brick houses and thatch-roof huts.

Yet, in a tidy office shaded by 30-foot-tall palms, 50 young people sit at PCs connected to the Internet Free How-To Guide for Small Business Web Strategies - from domain name selection to site promotion. via a long-distance radio link, doing business process outsourcing Latest News about Outsourcing (BPO) tasks such as checking expense account receipts for Indian corporations and arranging job interviews for applicants in distant cities.

They're working for GramIT, a 16-month-old nonprofit that's seeking to transplant India's tech services boom to some of the country's 600,000 villages. Workers in Ethakota earn a fraction of what the outsourcing troops in Bangalore do, but they're not complaining.

Srinivas Ruddireddy makes twice as much money arranging car services online for people in Hyderabad as he does from the two-acre rice plot he tends in the early morning. He now plans to send his 4-year-old son to private school.

"My lifestyle has entirely changed," says the 30-year-old. "But I'm able to stay in the village." So far, GramIT operates in three villages in Andhra Pradesh. However, the group hopes soon to expand to many more. "If work can shift from the U.S. to a city in India, why can't work from cities in India shift to villages in India?" says Ramalinga Raju, chairman of tech services provider Satyam Computer Services and founder of the Byrraju Foundation. He set up the group in 2001 to fund projects, such as GramIT (gram is the Sanskrit word for "village"), aimed at transforming the rural economy.

Entry-level GramIT employees, all with at least three-year college degrees, earn US$800 a year, compared with $2,000 to $5,000 annually for an employee at an urban outsourcing shop. Satyam has signed on as the outfit's biggest customer and says the operation does good work. Hoping to cut back-office costs in half, the company has farmed out human resources and accounting jobs to GramIT; now it's reviewing other processes it might hand off.

GramIT is clearly having a profound effect on Ethakota. One beneficiary is K.V.S. Murthy, who was forced to leave home to find work a few years ago. Now, he's back in the village and working at GramIT. The income from his outsourcing job has allowed the 32-year-old to take up a revered but low-paying role in the community that has been passed down from generation to generation in his family that of the village's Hindu priest. Murthy's good fortune won't assure GramIT's success, but you've got to admit the karma is good. Source: CRM Buyer
http://www.cyberabadtimes.net/2007/01/taking-outsourcing-to-countryside.asp

^^^ Yesterday there was a show in national geographic which documented several e-governance initiatives of the state government. Byyaraju foundation is doing a great job.
The best initiative that sounded cool was e-sagu where farmers can post their queries and get expert opinion from scientists at ICRISAT or other government agencies in real time.

Mahindra Intl plans Rs 2000cr unit in Pune
Press Trust of India / Mumbai January 15, 2007

Mahindra International, the commercial vehicle arm of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), has zeroed in on Pune to set up a greenfield plant at an investment of over Rs 2,000 crore.

"Maharashtra has been selected for this new venture between Mahindra and International Truck and Engine Corporation (ITEC) for manufacturing commercial vehicles," a senior state government official told PTI. An M&M spokesperson, however, declined to comment.

Mahindra International, a 51:49 joint venture between M&M and US-based ITEC, has already commenced manufacturing light commercial vehicles (LCV) under a contract manufacturing arrangement with M&M at the Zaheerabad plant in Andhra Pradesh.

well, they are going out of state for their new plant. so, clearly they are not completely satisfied with their current location.....i guess, infrastructure is one big issue for them.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/17/stories/2007011708140600.htm
Rs. 900-crore World Bank loan for Andhra Pradesh
HYDERABAD: The World Bank has sanctioned a fresh tranche of loan to Andhra Pradesh and showered praise on the Congress Government for "building on the economic and social reforms initiated by the previous Government."

It approved the Andhra Pradesh Economic Reform Credit/Loan, the third in the series of structural adjustment loans (SAL) renamed development policy loan to the tune of $200 million (about Rs. 900 crore) to the State. The loan was approved as the new Government that took over in May, 2004, placed emphasis on agriculture and irrigation along with continuing key reform initiatives of the past such as fiscal discipline, improving the investment climate, governance reforms and restructuring of public enterprises.

The new Government "has extended the reform programme to new areas, including liberalisation of agriculture markets, increasing access of the poor to land and credit and shifting public expenditure to build rural infrastructure," the Bank observed. According to the Project Information Document (PID) released by the bank, the loan comes after two structural adjustment loans approved earlier. The first loan of $250 million along with a grant of $100 million provided by U.K.'s Department For International Development (DFID)was given in March 2002, and the second loan of $220 million and DFID grant of $100 million in February 2004.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/17/stories/2007011719160300.htm
Easing flow of traffic on Bandar Road

VIJAYAWADA: Imagine zooming past in your car or two-wheeler on Mahatma Gandhi Road from Police Control Room to Benz Circle, or in the reverse direction, in just six minutes without ever stopping at any of the six traffic junctions even during peak hour. Sounds incredible, right?

But this can be a reality, if the city police and the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) succeed in implementing their joint action plan for improving the traffic junctions and synchronising them with one another.

The plan envisages that if the signal light at either end of the three-kilometre-long stretch turns green, the remaining signals too will show the same till the end of the stretch. All that the vehicle drivers need to do is to maintain a uniform speed of 30 km per hour till the end of the stretch.

Development :Taking a cue from metropolitan cities like Chennai and Bangalore, where signal lights have been synchronised much earlier, the city police and the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) have chalked out a plan to implement the same in the city and have chosen the ever-busy Mahatma Gandhi road for a trial.

As part of this, traffic junctions at Hotel D.V. Manor, Chennupati petrol station and Veterinary Hospital will be renovated one after the other before being synchronised. City-based software firm Efftronics Systems Private Limited has come forward to sponsor the traffic lights for the junctions, while the VMC will take up the engineering work.

Planning :"The planning part is nearing completion and we are estimating the budget now," says Police Commissioner C.V. Anand. He says importance will be given to `free left' while renovating the traffic junctions and inconvenience to road users will be reduced. "Bad engineering is a major problem with these junctions. After competing the renovation of NTR Circle at Patamata, we will take up similar work at the remaining junctions," he says.

The VMC will play a major role in implementation of the synchronisation project, whose implementation depends much on the completion of widening of Mahatma Gandhi Road.

"We cannot take up this project till the completion of widening work. Once the project succeeds, we will extend it up to Autonagar Gate in the second phase," Mr. Anand reveals.

Six new airports to come up in State

Source: The hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/18/stories/2007011819420100.htm)

HYDERABAD: Six airports will be developed in the tier-II towns of the State jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government.

Construction of two of these airports -- Kadapa and Warangal -- will be completed within two years and their commercial operation will begin by December 2007.

A memorandum of understanding for the development of these two airports will be signed between the two implementing agencies in the first week of February. Simultaneously, techno-economic feasibility for Greenfield airports at Nellore, Ongole, Ramagundam and Tadepalligudem will be taken up by them through the Investment and Infrastructure Department.

These decisions were taken at a meeting convened by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy with officials of the infrastructure-related departments.

This apart, expansion of airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Tirupati and Puttaparti will be taken up. Kingfisher Airlines will commence its operation to Puttaparti on January 22.

In Visakhapatnam, a new runway is built while the re-carpeting of the existing runway and night landing facility, including installation of instrument landing systems, will be completed by the month-end.

The calibration aircraft will test these facilities on February 15. The State Government released its share of funds for the development of this airport.

Bhartiya plans leather park in Nellore (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/19/stories/2007011900422300.htm)


Bhartiya International Ltd (BIL), a New Delhi-based group of entrepreneurs engaged in export of leather products, has proposed to establish a leather park in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

The park would be developed as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for manufacturing of leather and leather products, including all kinds of footwear. It would have the potential to employ more than 10,000 people in the next five years.

The Managing Director of BIL, Mr Snehdeep Aggarwal, and the State Secretary for Industries, Ms Y. Srilakshmi, signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, here today.

According to BIL's plans, about 10 units are to be located in the SEZ. Several leading manufacturers, including its own units, currently involved in the manufacture and processing of leather products, primarily for exports, have expressed interest in setting up units, an official press release said.

The company will commence construction activity within six months of handing over of land. Mr Aggarwal said they would bring the units over a five-year period. BIL has a turnover of $80 million as per its latest available numbers. It plans to create the requisite social infrastructure to support the manufacturing activities within the SEZ.

In addition to BIL, Cosie Leather, Taiwan, Irving Leather, US; Zhejiang Tiancong Import and Export Co and Huatong Industries, both of China; Liberty Shoes, Karnal; Drish Shoes, Panchkula, Crew B.O.S. Products, Gurgaon, Selathar Industries, and Gaitonde Private Ltd, both from Chennai, have expressed interest in setting up units, the release added.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/19/stories/2007011902120500.htm
Gas-based power plant on the anvil

KARIMNAGAR: Process for the execution of the ambitious 2100 MW gas-based combined cycle power plant near Nedunuru village in Thimmapur mandal was set in motion on Thursday, with the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the Andhra Pradesh Generation Company Limited conducting a public hearing on environmental issues in Nedunuru. There was good response to the issue with the participation of villagers from Nedunuru,

Laxmidevapalli, Gundlapalli and adjoining villages. Though, some of the land oustees were worried about losing their precious lands and demanded suitable compensation, others hoped for jobs for their youth in the proposed power plant and indirect employment to others of the adjoining villages with the industrialisation of the area.

The 2100 MW gas-based power plant proposed on a sprawling 434 acres of land would be implemented in three phases of 700 MW each. Significantly, there would be no displacement of people and involvement of forest land in the execution of the projectThe approximate cost of the project is Rs. 5,600 crores and would be completed within 30 months Participating in the public hearing of the project, Andhra Pradesh Genco Managing Director Ajay Jain said, the power plant in Karimnagar district would solve the power problems of northern Telangana. This pollution-free power project would transform the region economically and solve future power demands of the agriculture sector. He said that they had proposed a green belt in the vicinity of the power plant .

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/19/stories/2007011913450400.htm
Rs. 11 cr. to develop Kadapa aerodrome

KADAPA: Kadapa aerodrome will be initially developed with Rs. 11 crores to facilitate landing and taking off of 50-seater aircraft, Collector M.T. Krishna Babu said on Thursday.

The State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airports Authority of India to develop airports at Kadapa and Warangal, the Collector said.

Works would commence by June this year , he said. Kadapa requires a full-fledged airport as an IT park and SEZ would come up here, Kadapa Mayor P. Ravindranath Reddy said.

State gets Rs 3,000 cr under JNNURM
Newindpress.com
HYDERABAD: Muncipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao today said that Andhra Pradesh is the only State to get funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore so far under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

He inaugurated a one-day workshop on ‘Mandatory Reforms to be taken up under (JNNURM)’ at MCR Human Resource Development Institute. Municipal Administration Department Secretary Veena Ish stressed the importance of adopting the reforms.

The workshop was conducted for the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the urban development authorities (UDAs) and ULBs falling in the areas of UDAs, heads of departments and senior officers.

TROUBLED WATERS
No trace of victims’ bodies at Krishna
CM Announces Ex Gratia Of Rs 2 Lakh Each

Kurnool: Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the immediate kin of the victims of the boat tragedy near Muravakonda in which 64 people drowned.

The chief minister visited the spot of the tragedy and enquired about the incident from some of the survivors. “Among the dead were at least 18 women and 19 children,’’ said Kurnool collector M Dana Kishore. Despite pressing expert swimmers, five launches, 10 boats and 20 country boats into service, none of the bodies was traced till late in the night.

He announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the kin of the children who died in the accident. Apart from this, Rs 50,000 would be given as compensation under Apathbandhu scheme to each of the 32 families who lost their dear ones. He assured that each of these families would be given at least two acres and a pucca house under the Indira Awas Yojana scheme.

The chief minister also announced the sanctioning of a three-kilometre-long bridge across the Krishna connecting Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts at Siddeswaram. The project will cost Rs 75 crore and it would take two years for its completion.

The chief minister also announced a reward of Rs 50,000 to the fishermen who rescued about 10 persons and also sanctioned a mechanised boat to them. He assured the aggrieved families that two mechanised boats would be kept on both the banks to ferry the passengers till the bridge was constructed.

Locals said they had been demanding a bridge for the past three decades, but successive governments have not listened to them. This, they said, forced people to opt for country boats, which charge Rs 10 or Rs 20 to ferry a person across the river. The road journey is time consuming, taking a minimum of five hours to cover the distance of 160 km between Kollapur and Atmakuru.

Ten years ago, 15 persons of a marriage party, including the bride drowned when the putti in which they were travelling capsized. In 2002, four Maoists were washed away when their putti drowned in the river.

According to the revenue officials, the drowned belong to 32 families. They said 30 were from Muravakonda, 11 from Konidela, seven from Bhaskarapuram, six each from Bijinivemula and Veerapuram, two from Lingapuram and one each from Muchumarri and Pratakota.
source :http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Skins/TOI/Client.asp?Daily=TOIH&login=ragece&Enter=true&Skin=TOI&GZ=T&AppName=1

^^ 3 KM by water way and 160 KM by road .

That bridge is very very necessary. It will provide better connectivity between Hyderabad and Rayalaseema region by taking off the load from the Beachpally bridge on NH - 7 ( Hyd-B'lore highway).

Google image of the site where a brige will be constructed over river Krishna connecting Mahabub Nagar and Kurnool districts. ( pink coloured boxes)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1695/goog8cd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Once the above bridge is constructed, The stretch all along the Hyd - Amangal - Kalwakurthy - Nagarkurnool - Kollapur - the bridge - Nandikotkur - Nandyal should be upgraded to a National Highway or atleast State Highway.

It is estimated that if this proposal transforms into reality, then it would cut the distance between Hyd - Tirupathi , Hyd - Chennai by a staggering 170 KM .

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2880/nh18new6pj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The advantages are....

* Better connectivity between the two metros. ( Hyd and Chennai )

* Decrease the traffic on every busy Hyd - Kurnool stretch of NH-7.

* The proposed stretch passes through the backward areas of Mahabub Nagar and Kurnool. This road should trigger the development of these areas.

and ofcourse there would be no more tragedies like yesterday's boat capsize accidents in this area.

IMO, land acquistion for upgradation will not be a problem because the existing road passes off the villages.:)

:ohno: It is sad to hear that GoAP has been sitting over this project for over two decades.

yeah.....our govts will wake up when something like this tragedy rings alarm bells and threatens the vote bank of politicians/parties.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/21/stories/2007012113920300.htm
Proposal for bridge on Krishna at Kollapur being considered

HYDERABAD: Roads and Buildings Minister Jakkampudi Rammohan Rao has said that a proposal for construction of a high level bridge across the Krishna at Kollapur mandal in Mahabubnagar district costing about Rs. 110 crores was under consideration.
The Minister at a review meeting with officials on Saturday said that as an immediate compliance of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's assurance to the people in wake of the recent boat tragedy in Krishna causing death of several persons, the proposal was being considered.

Budget hotels : The Minister also discussed the revision of budget estimates for 2006-07, repairs and maintenance of roads and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the R&B and Tourism Department for construction of budget hotels on R&B properties.

Review : Large bridge projects on BOT basis, railway safety works and other innovative initiatives in the department were also reviewed.

Reviewing the World Bank aided APRSP projects, it was noted that advance action had been taken to call tenders for Public Private Partnership based negative subsidy projects like the Anakapalle-Anandapuram road and Gundugolanu-Devarapalle-Kovvur road.

Ministers approve DA hike, 8 airports
Deccan Chronicle

Hyderabad, Jan. 20: The State Cabinet on Saturday endorsed a government decision to set up eight more green field airports in the State and ordered techno-economic feasibility study. The Cabinet also approved fresh Dearness Allowance at 41 per cent of the basic pay to employees that would cost the exchequer Rs 501.93 crores. This would come into effect from July 1, 2006.

The airports are proposed at Ramagundam, Kothagudem, Nizamabad, Ongole, Nellore, Kurnool, Tadepalligudem and Anantapur. The feasibility study would include likely passenger traffic, land availability and viability of aircraft that would be operated. “Once the survey is complete, proposals would be forwarded to the Union government,” minister for information and public relations Md Ali Shabbir told mediapersons after a meeting of the State Cabinet.

The Cabinet also endorsed the government’s decision to develop and expand the existing five airports at Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Gannavaram, Warangal and Kadapa. Warangal and Kadapa have aerodromes but they were closed down as they were found to be unviable in the past. The Cabinet decided to develop them and make them functional by the end of 2007, so that passenger flight operations could commence immediately. The Cabinet also approved a new instalment of dearness allowance at 4.71 per cent of basic pay with effect from July 1, 2006.

The DA hike would be applicable to employees of local bodies, full-time contingent employees and employees of aided institutions and universities and pensioners. The Cabinet decided to give counter guarantee to the Rural Water Supply department to take a loan of Rs 550 crore from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation for providing drinking water supply in East Godavari, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Kurnool and Anantapur districts.

The Cabinet decided to create an escrow account in all municipalities for depositing the amount collected through taxes into that account for payment of salaries to employees. Other decisions were: Allotment of 50 acres of land to M/s EBC Bearings (India) Limited at the rate of Rs 30 lakh per acre at Adibhatla village of Ibrahimpatan mandal to set up a plant for largescale bearings and vendor park; alienation of two plots of 1,000 square yards each at Rs 9,000 per square yard to State Bank of Hyderabad at Shaikpet for construction of administrative buildings and guest houses.

Bridge across Vasishta soon
http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top

Narasapuram, Jan. 22: To cater to the transport needs of people from the Godavari districts, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy announced the construction of a bridge across the Vasishta Goda-vari connecting Narasapuram and Sakhinetipalli at a cost of Rs 42 crores.

The Chief Minister who arrived here to take part in the valedictory session of the 16th State-level NGOs meet on Monday, addressed Indiramma programme beneficiaries at the Housing Board Colony. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the bridge would be constructed across the Vasi-shta Godavari to cater to the needs of people from East and West Godavari districts.

Referring to the Indiramma programme, the Chief Minister said that all eligible persons in the State will be provided a house in the next two-and-half years. He assured basic amenities at Indiramma villages and colonies and reiterated government’s efforts to ensure power supply, potable water, drains, roads and schools, in addition to pensions to widows, aged and physically challenged persons.

Later, taking part in the NGOs meet, the Chief Minister assured efforts to sort out the panchayat secretaries’ issue pending in the court. He said that though the government was willing to give remuneration to panchayat raj ministerial staff on the first of every month, they were facing some financial constraints.

He said that the government had given a 16 per cent hike in the remuneration to its emp-loyees though the Pay Revision Commission recommended only 8.5 per cent hike. The NGOs newly-elected State president Gopal Reddy called for the implementation of GO No. 212 meant for the regularisation of services of employees.

TD insists on port at Masula
http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top

Vijayawada, Jan. 22: The proposal to shift the oldest port at Machilipatnam, the headquarters of Krishna district, has become a weapon for the Opposition Telugu Desam (TD) to expose the Congress and strengthen its position in the district. The TD is also raking up regional passions claiming that the proposed site Goguleru would help develop West Godavari district at the cost of Machilipatnam. The State government wants to shift the port to Goguleru while the Oppostion demands revival of the port in its present location.

The TD feels that Bhimavaram would develop at the cost of Machilipatnam if the port is shifted to Goguleru which technically falls in Krishna district but is very close to Bhimavaram in West Godavari district.

Mr Brahmanaiah alleged that the government was trying to shift the port to Goguleru under pressure from an industrialist who hails from Bhimavaram. The industrialist, who owns multi-national IT companies is reportedly getting the tender for developing the port, he said.

When pointed out that a technical committee recommended Goguleru for construction of the port, Mr Brahmanaiah said there are several reports with different opinions...

what about the new machilipatnam port? is this what the article's talkin' about?

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012412900400.htm

One more unit for RTPS

HYDERABAD: A day before dedicating the 210 MW first unit of the expansion project of Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station (RTPS) to the nation, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday announced a plan to expand the station by taking up yet another unit of 500 MW capacity.

This will take its total capacity to 1,340 MW. The station now has two 2 MW units and the expansion project will add two more of equal capacity. The second unit of the expansion project will be synchronised in May.

Infrastructure ready : The new 500 MW unit is being taken up in view of the readily available infrastructure--sufficient extent of land, coal linkage from Singareni Collieries and water availability from Mylavaram-Owk immediately and from Brahmamgari Matham reservoir of the Telugu Ganga project in future. It will be commissioned by 2008.

Reviewing the power supply situation here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister noted that any expansion of the RTPS, which was strategically located in the middle of Rayalseema at Muddanur in Kadapa district, would greatly improve voltage and ensure quality and reliable power to the region.

An official said later that AP Genco had taken up a massive programme to add a capacity of 6,653 MW within the next few years at an estimated outlay of Rs 25,822 crores. The new projects are: Upper Jurala (234 MW), Lower Jurala (234 MW), Vijayawada Stage IV (500 MW), Kakatiya Thermal I and II (1,000 MW), Nagarjunasagar Tail Pond (50 MW), Pochampad Unit IV ( 9 MW), Kothagudem Stage VI (500 MW), gas-based project near Karimnagar (2,100 MW) and Krishnapatnam (1,600 MW).

Besides, the State would get a share of 1,600 MW out of the 4,000-MW ultra mega project taken up by the Government of India at Krishnapatnam.

what about the new machilipatnam port? is this what the article's talkin' about?

A tech committee has studied the area and submitted a report that the old Machiliptnam port area has been blocked/inundated with silt and due to the changes in geographical profile, it would not be feasible to build and operate a port in that area. Hence they studied further in the neighboring areas and identified Gangileru area to be ideal for developing a new port.

Private investors would come forward to invest their money only if the project would become profitable.
Old Machilipatnam Port area could still be developed and used as a fishing harbor.

NH5
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9514/nh56xs.jpg

How Beautiful!
Thanks @Indiansunite.

1-lakh cr. Science City for Anantapur

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/26/stories/2007012611650100.htm)

HYDERABAD: A massive, state-of-the-art integrated ` Odyssey Science City' is proposed to be established in drought-prone Anantapur district with an investment of $ 25 billion (Rs. 1.1 lakh crores) over the next 10 years by a consortium of four Australia and Singapore-based companies.

The proposal for setting up the mega venture was signed by Additional Secretary (Industries) K. R. K. Reddy on behalf of the State Government and Bob Sharpless, Managing Director, Springfield Land Corporation, Australia, in the presence Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Thursday. It would be coming up between Odicheruvu and Ammadiguda in Anantapur, a few hours' drive from Bangalore.

YSR promises support

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy said: " We are excited about the announcement of Odyssey Science City in an area that has been traditionally drought-prone and backward." He assured full Government support for the project.

The consortium consists of Springfield Land Corporation, Macquarie Bank, Australia and Juron International Group, and Semb Corp Industries, both from Singapore.


Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Sharpless said the project envisaged a self-contained, hi-tech complex with its own comprehensive infrastructure, including power, expressways, telecom networks, desalination plants, biotech parks, SEZs, IT/Biotech parks, industrial parks, hospitals, educational institutions, hotels and amusement parks.

He said Science City would provide direct employment to 15 lakh people and indirect employment to another 10 lakhs. It would be financed entirely by the consortium and the Government's support would be required in areas like provision of land and water on commercial terms. "In recent memory, this represents the single largest investment in a Greenfield project," he added.

National centre

It would be developed into a national centre for technology and innovations, hi-tech manufacturing industries, software development, IT, biotechnology, bio-pharmaceuticals, R &D, telecommunications, supercomputing, artificial intelligence, education, finance and banking, tourism and entertainment, fine arts, medical and healthcare services.

He said the rehabilitation package for the affected residents would follow the guidelines stipulated by the Government. In addition to the prescribed package, the consortium would provide modern housing, vocational training to the displaced, no restrictions on number of persons to be employed per family, land to be procured at prevailing market rates, free education and health care to the affected residents and landlords would be made stakeholders in the project.

Rao Munukutla, CEO Juron Infrastructure ( India) Pvt.Ltd, said the exact extent of land had not yet been finalised.

David Belham, Trade Commissioner, Queensland Government, Australia, said the proposed city would provide a platform for many Australian universities.

:dj:

1-lakh cr. Science City for Anantapur

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/26/stories/2007012611650100.htm)


:dj:
^^ This one looks quite ambitious. Rs 1,00,000 Crores !!!! :omg:

^^ i'll believe it only when it actually happens.........!!!!

Guys! More recent news articles talk about a/some Worlds Tallests in this project! Major news indeed, and well deserving of a dedicated thread.

...created such a thread here:
Megaproject: Odyssey Science City, Anantapur, AP: 10K acre twp. + Worlds Tallest(s) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=435097)

Please cross post any new news articles from there to here and vice versa!

-Jai

-------==--=--==-------

X-posted from aformentioned thread:
High-tech science city to come up in Andhra (http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1912234,0004.htm)
Indo-Asian News Service
Hyderabad, January 26, 2007

A state-of-the-art integrated science city will come up in Andhra Pradesh's drought-prone Anantapur district with an investment of $25 billion over 10 years by a consortium of four Australian and Singaporean companies.

The Odyssey Science City would come up on 65,000 acres of land between Odicheruvu and Ammadiguda in Anantapur, about 400 kms from Hyderabad.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for developing the city was signed in Hyderabad on Thursday between the state government and the consortium, which comprises Springfield Land Corporation and Macquarie Bank from Australia and Singapore's Juron International Group and Semb Corp Industries.

The consortium will invest about $3 billion in the next three years to build the ultra-modern integrated township on 10,000 acres.

The project envisages a self-contained, hi-tech complex with its own comprehensive infrastructure, including power, expressways, telecom networks, desalination plants, biotech parks, special economic zones, IT/biotech parks, industrial parks, hospitals, educational institutions, hotels and amusement parks.

It will become a national centre for IT and supercomputing, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, high-tech manufacturing industries, export oriented centres, media and telecommunications, tourism and entertainment, medical and health and finance and banking.

The project will provide a platform to 500 companies to establish their branches in every field of manufacturing, travel, commerce, financial services, retailing and transportation.

According to Springfield Land Corporation Managing Director Bob Sharpless, the project would provide direct employment to 1.5 million people and indirect employment to another million. :eek:

Springfield is planning to replicate the Greater Springfield model of Australia, claimed to be world's only master planned edge city.

It would be financed entirely by the consortium and the government's support would be required in areas like provision of land and water on commercial terms.

"We are excited about the announcement of Odyssey Science City in an area that has been traditionally drought-prone and backward," said Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Jurong Infrastructure (India) CEO Rao Munukutla said they planned to build world's tallest structures in the science city. :eek: :eek: He said proximity to the Karnataka capital Bangalore, about 200 kms away, was one reason for setting up the project in Anantapur district.

IIT for Medak, IT for all districts, says CM
http://www.deccan.com/home/homedetails.asp#Suicide%20blast%20in%20Pak%20VIP%20zone
Hyderabad, Jan. 26: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy on Friday reiterated that the proposed IIT would be located in backward Medak district. He said that IT growth would not be Hyderabad-centric but evenly spread in all districts. Software exports would touch a record Rs 19,000 crores during this financial year, he said. The Chief Minister said this after taking the salute at the Republic Day parade in the absence of Governor Rameshwar Thakur who was away in Orissa. Republic Day medals were not presented since the Governor was away.

Dr Reddy warned bigwigs possessing assigned lands to surrender them voluntarily or face government action. He said that the government was duty-bound to restore lakhs of acres of assigned land given to the poor. “We will not harass the poor,” he said. “But the rich who are in possession of the assigned lands should voluntarily surrender them. The government is committed to take back the lands.”
Like during the 2006 Independence Day Dr Reddy did not mention the Naxal problem during his speech.

Dr Reddy said the government was keen on developing all backward regions and providing equal opportunities to all sections of people. Regional development boards would be established for this, he added. The Chief Minister announced that 12 lakh acres would be provided irrigation facilities every year and added that food grain production would touch 206 lakh tonnes by 2009. Referring to the power crisis, he said all steps would be taken to ensure normal power supply.

The government would set up teaching hospitals in various districts and would provide free medical care of up to Rs 1.5 lakhs for white ration card holders under the Arogya Sri programme, he said. The revival of the Legislative Council would fulfil the dreams of the architects of the constitution and provide an opportunity for intellectuals, representatives from local bodies and other experts in ensuring good governance, he said.

GMR to bid for Rs 300 bn road development projects

New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) Infrastructure major GMR Group has said it will bid for ten forthcoming road development projects in various parts of the country, worth around Rs 300 bn.

"About ten projects for four and six laning of roads are coming up in different places, including Surat and Chennai, for which we will bid," GMR Group Chief Finance Officer Madhu Terdal told PTI. He said the overall value of the projects put together could be around Rs 300 bn. "Out of these, we are confident of bagging at least two to three projects," Terdal added.

The Bangalore-based Group has already tied up funds for all the four new road schemes worth Rs 23.47 bn it is undertaking, he said. "We have started the construction and implementation of these projects," Terdal added. The projects include Ambala-Chandigarh (35 Kms),
Farukhnagar-Jadcherla (58 Kms),
Adloor Yellareddy-Pochanpalli (102 Kms) and the Tindivanam-Ulundurpet (73 Kms).

In the nine months period ended December 2006, GMR Group had posted a revenue of around Rs 1.1 bn from its road infrastructure business, he added. The Group had entered into the roads sector when the government invited bids to develop roads under the Golden Quadrilateral Scheme in early 2000.

It has already completed four-laning of the highways between Tuni-Anakapalli on NH-5 in Andhra Pradesh for a distance of 60 kms and between Tambaram-Tindivanam for a distance of 93 km in Tamil Nadu. PTI

Companies rush to grab road projects
Shalini Singh [ 23 Jan, 2007 0009hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: Will competition in the highway sector ultimately translate into lower user charges? As 2007 begins, private companies are jostling for road projects with renewed gusto. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been deluged by a staggering 143 pre-qualification (PQ) proposals for just 8 BOT (Toll) projects under NHDP Phase V.

As many as 49 firms (in various combinations) have submitted proposals to expand 1,405 km of identified highway stretches to six lanes. The total value of these projects is approximately Rs 9,133 crore and the entire bidding process is expected to close by the end of March.

The Chennai-Tada stretch has attracted maximum attention with 25 proposals, followed by Gurgaon-Jaipur with 21 bids (see Table).

"The robust interest in NHDP V projects is very encouraging," says chairman, NHAI, Pradeep Kumar. But this is just the start. Between Jan-March 2007, 996 km of projects in NHDP Phase 1 and 111 worth Rs 6,474 crore will be awarded, with bids being invited for 1,225 km worth Rs 7,766 crore in Phase V. Additionally, another 5,506 km of projects worth Rs 35,792 crore in Phases 11, 111 and V will be awarded in 2007-8, generating bids for 9,132 km worth Rs 59,165 crore for 2007-8.

"The ability of the highway sector to generate competition among so many technically competent bidders is a good sign, likely to ensure both better quality roads and reduced user charges," says Umesh Gupta, assistant V-P, Gammon India Ltd. Gammon is a key player in road sector.

Toll rates are fixed at 40 paise/km for passenger vehicles with tolled stretches fetching the government staggering amounts from the private sector by way of negative capital grants. However, NHAI officials rule out any reduction in toll rates on grounds that toll rates are already among the lowest globally

Seven Reliance Fresh stores open in Andhra

BS Reporter / Vijayawada January 28, 2007

Source: Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=20068)
Reliance Retail on Sunday launched seven Reliance Fresh pilot stores, four in Vijayawada and three in Guntur, thus making its entry into coastal Andhra Pradesh.

In Reliance style, the first customers who entered the stores inaugurated them. Every customer who made purchases at these stores was presented half-a-kilo of sugar free.

K Venugopal, chief executive, customer operations, Reliance Industries (retail business), said the company was planning to open 25 more Fresh stores in coastal Andhra Pradesh this year as part of its strategy to have a pan-India presence.

He said the stores, beginning with 250 categories of commodities, would increase the number phase-wise to 1,250 categories. Stores in Vijayawada and Guntur would be expanded in two months basing on customer feedback.

Before opening the stores, the Reliance executives had made frequent visits to a number villages around Vijayawada and Guntur and came to an understanding with farmers on supply of vegetables and other products. Reliance would pay market rates to farmers and lift products directly from them. According to their study, 40% of vegetables and fruits harvested by the villagers were being wasted.

With the stores in Vijayawada and Guntur, the number of Reliance Fresh stores has reached 47 in the country. While Hyderabad has 21 stores, there are 12 in Chennai and seven in Jaipur, according to Venugopal.

The stores were opened at Suryaraopet, One Town, Machavaram and Gandhinagar in Vijayawada and at Arundelpet, Brodipet and Kothapet in Guntur. Each store has on an average 2,300 square feet of space.

AP launches ambitious irrigation projects (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200701280353.htm)


The Andhra Pradesh Government which has embarked upon an ambitious irrigation projects programme under "Jalayagnam Irrigation Projects" in the State would fulfill the long-pending need to irrigate the chronic drought prone areas of Telangana, Rayalasemma and Coastal Andhra.

In order to bring dry and waste lands under irrigation the state government decided to construct 46 irrigation projects at a stretch.

Under these irrigation projects, as on today, works worth Rs 15,898 crores (53.27 per cent) were taken up in Telangana area which would irrigate 56 lakh acres, thus creating lot of employment opportunities and eradicating poverty, an irrigation department spokesman told reporters who were on a visit to Rajiv (Bhima) lift irrigation scheme in chronic drought-prone district of Mahabubnagar on Friday.

Similarly, in Rayalaseema which was also a drought prone area the government plans to bring in 10.89 lakh acres under irrigation with a cost of Rs 4,913 crores (16.46 per cent), while Coastal Andhra was alloted Rs 9,033 crores (30.26 per cent) for irrigating 13 lakh acres.

11 states stand to gain from ‘Buddhist Tourism’ thrust
Ashok B Sharma Newindpress

New Delhi As India gears up to market Lord Buddha to attract global tourists, about 11 states stand to reap major benefits if they make sincere efforts to upgrade the identified circuits.

The Union ministry for tourism and culture has chalked out an action plan to promote “Buddhist tourism” around places having direct association with Lord Buddha’s life and mission. These are Kapilavastu, Sarnath, Kaushambi, Shravasti, Sankisa and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh and Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali in Bihar. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) is slated to launch a luxury coach—Mahaparinirvan Special Express—in March 2007 from Delhi, which would facilitate tourists to visit all these places. Year 2007 is the 2,550th year of the attainment of mahapariniravan or salvation by Lord Buddha.

The eight-day tour package of Mahaparinirvan Express includes train and road travel, hotel accommodation, meals and incidental expenses like site entry and guide charges. The package also provides flexible options. Apart from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the other states that house icons of Buddhism are Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. States like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh and Leh) have schools of learning and practices of Buddhism, particularly those relating to the Vajrayana/Lamaism sect and also spots for nature and adventure tourism. Thus, in all, 11 states have sites that are of specific interests to “Buddhist Tourism”.

A study by ICRA Management Consulting Services Ltd (iMaCS) on behalf of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Ficci) has estimated that if “Buddhist Tourism” is sincerely promoted, it can attract about million tourists by 2012, a rise by 400% over the flow of 200,000 Buddhist tourists in 2004.

Andhra Pradesh tourism minister, J Geeta Reddy, said her state was once the seat of Mahayana Buddhism and had four relevant tourist circuits like Hyderabad-Kondapur-Phanigiri-Anapu-Gajulabanda-Nagarjunakonda-Dulikatta, Guntur-Chandavaram-Amravati-Vaddamanu-Bhattiprolu, Vijayawada-Ghantasala-Nelakondapalle-Jaggayyapeta-Guntupalle and Visakhapatnam-Sankaram-Thotlakonda-Bavikonda-Pavurallakond-Salihundam-Dantapuram. She said was impressed with the Kalachakra ceremony held in the state in January 2006 for which her government spent Rs 55 crore.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has so far assisted four projects in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra amounting to Rs 1,200crore. It has plans for assisting development of other Buddhist circuits in India and the Heritage Corridor between Delhi and Mumbai.

URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=153030

IMO, tourism industry has lot of scope for expansion. it can provide many more jobs and groom service industries like hotels, restaurants, travel services, etc etc. the whole belt from north coastal Andhra down to Krishnapatnam and kakinada can be developed as a huge coastal tourism hub.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/30/stories/2007013004740500.htm
Karimnagar-Jagtial rail line likely to become a reality

KARIMNAGAR: The long-felt dream of a railway connection between Karimnagar and Jagtial is likely to be fulfilled in March 2007 with Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad planning to arrive in Karimnagar to flag off the new train, according to sources here on Monday.

As a prelude to the introduction of a passenger train on this new railway line, the authorities conducted a trial run of a goods engine on Republic Day. The authorities had intensified work for the inauguration of the new service between Karimnagar and Jagtial town via Gangadhara.

The authorities have already completed the construction of railway stations in Gangadhara, Puduru, Mallial and Jagtial and signalling system covering a distance of 48 km. The new service will benefit people and farmers in the transportation of crops and also locally available granite to other parts of the country.

Poor allocations : Meanwhile, the ambitious railway line project connecting Peddapalli-Karimnagar-Nizamabad covering a distance of 177 km was taken up in 1993 with former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao laying the foundation stone for the project. However, the project progressed at a snail's pace due to poor budgetary allocations.

The Peddapalli-Karimnagar railway covering a distance of 35 km was completed in 2002 with the introduction of a passenger train, which was later extended up to Kagaznagar in Adilabad district.

On the other hand, the Karimnagar railway station was doing roaring business in the transportation of granite and farmers' produce.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/30/stories/2007013004201700.htm
SMS Pharmaceuticals Ltd is coming out with an IPO to raise around Rs 98 crore in the upper end of the price band of Rs 360-380 per share. The proceeds will part-finance setting up of a new facility to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in Andhra Pradesh.

On offer are 25.77 lakh equity shares forming about 25.77 per cent of the fully diluted post-issue paid up capital of the company. The issue opens for subscription on February 5 and closes on February 8.

At least 50 per cent of the net issue to the public shall be allotted on a proportionate basis to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs). Further, 15 per cent of the net issue shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to non-institutional bidders, while 35 per cent of the net issue to the public shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to retail bidders.

The new plant near Vizianagaram will cost Rs 113 crore.

"The new facility will manufacture anti-viral, anti-migraine and anti hypertension drugs, which we believe are high margin businesses," said Mr Ramesh Babu Potluri, Chairman and Managing Director. The company has already raised Rs 14 crore through pre-IPO placement and Rs 30 crore from term loans. UTI Securities is the book running lead manager to the issue.

Vizag is becoming a hub for chemicals/pharma manufacturing...

Source: times of India

If oil’s well, AP to tap own gas
State Govt To Float Oil Exploration Company, Panel Of Names Being Considered
Hyderabad: Pressured by the power crisis on the one hand and belatedly deciding to tap the gas available within the state on the other, the state government has decided to float an oil exploration company which will soon bid for gas under the New Exploration Licence Policy.
To be christened the Krishna-Godavari Basin Gas Corporation Limited, the company will be in place in a couple of months and modelled on the lines of the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited, top sources told TOI. A provision of Rs 173 crore is to be allotted as initial capital in the 2007-08 general budget, sources said.
A panel of names is being considered to head the company, including former finance secretary V L Kelkar and the services of three senior IAS officers currently serving in the Union power and petroleum ministries is to be enlisted. “The tenure of the three officers, Mrutyunjay Sahu, AK Kutty, both joint secretaries in the power ministry, and B Sam Bob, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, will end in April-May and their services would be enlisted in the corporation after that,” an official said. The corporation is being created based on the pre-feasibility report submitted by Price Waterhouse Cooper to the state government. K V Rao, principal secretary in the infrastructure and investment department, and L V Subramanyam, VC & MD of the Infrastructure Corporation of AP, have been entrusted the responsibility of setting up the corporation, the sources added. Once in place, the corporation will participate in at least the eighth round of bidding for gas blocks under the New Exploration Licensing Policy. The process for the seventh round is scheduled to begin in March or April 2007.
Though Price Waterhouse Cooper submitted its report a year ago, the inability of Gas Authority of India to enhance the supply of gas to IPPs as per the agreements entered into with the earlier government spurred the government to expedite the process of setting up of the company.
OIL MATTERS
To be named the Krishna-Godavari Basin Gas Corporation Limited, the company will be in place in a couple of months. Rs 173 crore is to be allotted as initial capital.

APSRTC makes Rs 103-cr profit (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/31/stories/2007013102481900.htm)


After passing through a bad patch for years, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has registered a profit of Rs 103 crore during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006 as against a loss of Rs 43 crore in 2005-06.

The corporation had carried 343 crore passengers during the period as against 238 crore in 2005-06. The total traffic income for the period was put at Rs 2,736 crore as against the income of Rs 3,198 crore in 2005-06.

The earnings per kilometre was Rs 14.94 up to December 31, 2006 as against Rs 13.41 in 2005-06.

Discussing the performance with the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Dinesh Reddy, requested the State Government to reimburse a sum of Rs 405 crore for the corporation towards concessions given by the government to different categories of passengers.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/01/stories/2007020107460600.htm
Broad gauge line between Kinwat, Mudkhed opened

KINWAT (MAHARASHTRA): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said economic development of backward regions was being planned through new initiatives such as the `freight corridor.' He said two new lines would be laid along the existing tracks linking important places exclusively for goods train to run.

Inaugurating the newly converted 116-km broad gauge line between Kinwat and Mudkhed stations in Maharashtra and flagging off the Adilabad-Nanded-Adilabad passenger train on the Nanded Division of South Central Railway, the Minister said the estimated expenditure on the `freight corridor' project would be Rs. 25,000 crore. Initially, the twin track was being laid to link Ludhiana and Kolkata via Bihar and Delhi and Mumbai. In the second phase, Mumbai would be linked to Chennai and Chennai to Howrah.

Among the measures being adopted by the Railways, Mr. Prasad said railway stations across the country would be built at world standards in addition to improvement of passenger amenities. Waiting halls would be constructed outside the platform area so that relatives of passengers did not enter bogies and cause security problems. Besides, all tracks would be fenced.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar urged the Minister to sanction more broad gauge lines for the Marathwada region in Maharashtra. Among those who attended were Union Minister of State for Railway R. Velu and Union Minister of State for Rural Development Suryakanta Patil.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/01/stories/2007020113270400.htm
Lalu inaugurates Kinwat-Mudkhed broad gauge line

Kakinada Port to build 6 jetties
Vadrevu Srinivas / Chennai/ Kakinada January 31, 2007

Kakinada Port is making efforts to increase cargo handling capacity both at the anchorage and Kakinada Deep Water Port (KDWP) by constructing new jetties and berths.

The port has also launched dredging operations in view of its increasing importance. The anchorage port has constructed four new jetties at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore taking their number to 19. With this, cargo handling capacity has increased to 35 lakh tonne from the earlier 18 lakh tonne.

Six more jetties are proposed to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore in the coming financial year, according to N Sridhar, director of ports, Andhra Pradesh.
He told Business Standard that the revenue of the port tripled in the past two years. He also expressed the hope that cargo handling revenue of the anchorage port would touch the Rs 15-crore mark by the end of this financial year. Sridhar said that there were plans to anchor long ships to facilitate hassle-free cargo handling.

Meanwhile, the Kakinada Sea Ports Limited (KSPL) has finalised the tender for the proposed fourth berth at the deep water port. Navayuga Engineering Company has bagged the contract. KDWP has achieved 85 percent occupancy rate. KSPL is spending Rs 230 crore on construction of the berth, off shore vessel complex (OSV) and other facilities in the deep water port.

“The construction of the berth will be completed by November 2007 and it will be operational by January 2008,’’ said Sridhar. While ships with a length of 200 meters can anchor at the present three berths, the upcoming one will have the space for anchoring ships having a length of 300 meters. KSPL has also taken up dredging operations at the port to increase the depth from 11.5 meters to 14 meters to facilitate anchoring long ships. While the anchorage port is run by the state government, the deep water port is managed by KSPL. Traditional cargo like rice, cement, maize etc are handled at the anchorage port, while liquid and hard cargo are handled at KDWP.
http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=273170&subLeft=1&leftnm=3

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020316570300.htm
182 cr. sanctioned for city under urban mission

VIJAYAWADA: The city has got more funds under the Jawaharalal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), with the Central Sanctioning Committee approving an allocation of Rs.182 crores on Friday.

Municipal Commissioner Natarajan Gulzar told The Hindu from New Delhi that Rs. 82 crores had been sanctioned for taking up roads, drains, water supply and underground drainage in 55 slums under the Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) sub-mission of JNNURM.

Another Rs. 80 crores was meant for improving water supply in the city by constructing 14 new reservoirs and a treatment plant at Gunadala with a capacity of 46 million litres per day.

The remaining Rs.20 crores had been sanctioned for taking up underground drainage in Gunadala area. With this, the city had got Rs.270 crores under the infrastructure component, Rs.342 crores for improvement of infrastructure under the BSUP sub-mission and another Rs.258 crores exclusively for housing under the BSUP.

Mr. Gulzar said Vijayawada had become the first city in the country to "overshoot its allocation" under the BSUP sub-mission.

Ring Road for Guntur soon

Guntur, Feb. 2: Guntur town will soon have an Outer Ring Road (ORR) with the State government approving the master plan submitted by the Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTM-UDA).

An 80-feet ORR will be constructed around the town to connect all the surrounding villages with the town. Works for the 19.51-km ORR will begin soon, said UDA chairman Malladi Vinshnu. The ORR connects Autonagar, Ankireddipalem, Agathavarapupadu, Adavit-hakkellapadu, Gorantla, Pedapalakulam, Thurkapalem and Nallapadu. It finally will connect with the National Highway No. 5.

Residential, industrial estates and mixed colonies will be developed under the new master plan, Mr Vishnu said. Addressing mediapersons on Friday, Mr Vishnu said the State government had approved the master plan on December 31 last year. He said the UDA would come out with all the details soon.

Amaravati Township would be developed with private partnership by Indi-African Industries Private Limited. The UDA will hand over 50 acres of land to the company which will construct 3,000 houses. The company will pay Rs 92 crores for the land. Mr Vishnu said illegal land transactions were being held in gram panchayats around Guntur town and warned that such transactions would be cancelled through an order from the collector.

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/04/stories/2007020419420100.htm
10 more IT centres this year, says Chief Minister

KAKINADA: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced here on Saturday that 10 more software technology parks would be established in the State this year on the lines of the one in Kakinada with priority being given to Tier-II cities.

Inaugurating the incubation centre of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), the first of its kind in the Godavari region, in the Collectorate compound, he asked Minister for Information Technology Sabita Indra Reddy and officials of her department to ensure early establishment of these new IT centres. This facility is the result of the joint effort of the STPI and the Department of IT and Communication. The 14,000 sq.ft. Godavari IT hub provides `plug and play' mode of office built-up space. As an anchor IT company, M/s Infotech Enterprises, has already taken 7,000 sq.ft. of space and will provide employment to 120 engineers by March. Expressing confidence that the IT industry would generate large-scale employment to cater to the global demand, he said over 70,000 graduates were passing out of 270 engineering colleges and another two lakh graduates from degree colleges. He lauded the efforts of Union Minister of State for Defence M. M. Pallam Raju for obtaining sanction for the STPI and for his keen interest in providing good avenues for engineering graduates in the region. Mr. Pallamraju said that Kakinada was headed towards becoming a preferred destination for IT development.

I was in kakinada for a week and was impressed by the progress the city has made. Nice roads, beautiful and well planned residential colonies and lots of parks have come up.
Despite the loss of ongc project, Kakinada has huge potential and after hyderabad and vizag this city may well be the one to watch out.

I was in kakinada for a week and was impressed by the progress the city has made. Nice roads, beautiful and well planned residential colonies and lots of parks have come up.
Despite the loss of ongc project, Kakinada has huge potential and after hyderabad and vizag this city may well be the one to watch out.

Kakinada is a planned coastal town right from the time of the British rule.It was sidelined all these years despite its potential.Atleast now they must focus on kakinada as is done to other major cities in A.P

Vizag, Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, all have good prospects because of the scope for industrial activity and also ports and naval activity.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/05/stories/2007020509110300.htm
Stone laid for new medical college

TIRUPATI: Kanchi Peethadhipathi Sri Jayendra Saraswathi laid the foundation stone and performed the traditional `Bhumi Pooja' for the Sri Padmavati Medical College and Teaching Hospital near Renigunta airport here on Sunday.

The college is established under the auspices of a registered health, medical education and research foundation jointly floated by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam and TTD's Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS). Things are evidently moving on a brisk pace as the programme comes just a fortnight after a MoUwas signed by Mutt representative Siva Sambu and the SVIMS varsity's registrar M. Anjaneyulu. MLA M. Venkataramana, TTD chairman B. Karunakar Reddy, Executive Officer A.P.V.N. Sarma, SVIMS director & vice-chancellor G. Subramanyamtook part in the simple ceremony.

Buckingham to be revived
http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top
Ongole, Feb. 4: As part of the efforts being made to develop the inland water transport in the country, the Union government has decided to revive the Kakinada-Chennai Buckingham waterway for shipping and navigation purposes at a cost Rs 750 crores. The National Transport Committee identified and recommended the revival of the canal which has not been functioning for several decades and has silted up.

Its flood banks are eroded and scoured badly. In this backdrop, the Centre decided to revive the 971 kms canal which played a key role in shipping of food along coastal districts under British rule. The water stretch of the proposed Buckingham canal is Kakinada canal (Kakinada-Rajamundry) 50 kms, Eluru canal (Rajamundry-Vijayawada) 139 kms, Kommamur canal (Vijayawada-Pedaganjam (Chinnaganjam mandal of Prakasam district) 113 kms, river Godavari (Bhadrachalam-Rajamundry) 171 kms, river Krishna (Wazirabad-Vijayawada) 151 kms.

Of the total area, about 887 kms passes through Andhra Pradesh and 84 kms in Tamil Nadu. A techno-economic feasibility study was conducted during 1996-97 for the revival of the waterway. The Planning Commission insisted to firm up funding for the proposed waterway while the Inland Waterways Authority of India will develop it.

It also provided employment to the weaker sections along its course. The MP said that efforts were underway to sanction funds in the next budget. These funds would be utilised for dredging and excavation of earth, bank protection, sea mouth opening, navigation aids, construction of locks, land acquisition, modification of bridges, drains, culverts and reconstruction of roads, etc.

It is expected that cargo can be transported to the tune of 64.15 lakh tonnes by 2011-12. The potential cargo will be cement, bulk goods, chemicals, coal, fertilisers, food grains, general goods, iron, steel, rice, salt and other provisions and raw materials. Traffic is handled at 14 terminals at Bhadrachalam, Pochavaram, Rajahmundry, Wazirabad, Muktiyala, Vijayawada, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Kakinada, Kothapatnam, Maipadu, Durgarajpatnam, Chennai and Pondicherry.
With the rapid industrial progress in Nellore district in the coming years the Buckingham canal will be extremely useful to transport products from that district to Chennai port in the future for export to other countries.

EG tops in bank linkage for women

Kakinada, Feb. 4: East Godavari district topped yet again in self-help groups (SHG) bank linkage programme in the present financial year of 2006-07 with Rs 260.57 crores. The district has the record of having the highest number of SHGs for women not only in the State but also in the entire country since 1998. The programme taken up for women’s empowerment through self-reliance was most successful in the district. The process which started in 1994 picked up momentum three years later. In total, 58,000 groups are functioning in the district as on date covering all 60 mandals.

The coverage includes the two municipal corporations of Rajahmundry and Kakinada and the seven municipalities of Tuni, Pedddapuram, Samarlakota, Pithapuram, Ramachandrapuram, Mandapeta and Amalapuram.. The programme called Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas in rural areas and Development of Women and Children in Urban Areas, a Nabard concept, gained roots slowly in the district. Since 1998 the rise was steady from Rs 8 crores to Rs 47.70 crores by 2001-02. Since then the rise was steep with bankers as well as the DRDA showing considerable interest with repayments also at the rate of 95 per cent.

In the present financial year there is an increase of Rs 90 crores with the lending touching Rs 260.57 crores with a linkage for 28,323 groups, bringing the total in the district to 65,000 groups. On achieving these targets, bankers were also presented awards by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy on his visit to the district on Saturday. He presented an award to Y. Prasad, deputy general manager of Andhra Bank, for topping the list.

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.asp#top

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/05/stories/2007020513840300.htm
Kolleru lake to be developed into eco-tourism spot: Minister

NALGONDA: The Tourism Department is determined to develop the Kolleru lake as a lovely eco-tourism spot, according to J.Geeta Reddy, Tourism Minister.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating `Haritha', a restaurant constructed by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation on the side of the National Highway no.9, near Suryapet town on Sunday night, she said a high-level team led by her would visit Kolleru soon to study the possibility of developing it as an eco-tourism centre.

The Minister maintained that the Government had given "rural focus" to tourism and taken up a good number of projects in each and every district. "Before the pro-poor Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy Government came to power, the emphasis was on cities and five star hotels but now we are giving special emphasis for rural tourism to create employment opportunity for the locals as well as to generate revenue," she said.

Of the 150 Buddhist locations in the State, 44 major sites were getting a facelift to attract tourists, she announced. "We have taken up the task of developing infrastructure at the 44 Buddhist sites," she said declaring that the prestigious "Bouddha Vanam" project taken up at a cost of Rs.30 crores in a 20-acre stretch at Nagarjunasagar would be completed by the end of the year.

The Rs.2.5-crore rural tourism project at Bhoodan Pochampally would be inaugurated by the Union Minister Ambika Soni this month.

Dr. Geeta Reddy positively reacted to focus on Urlugonda and Pillalamarri in the district. Home Minister K.Jana Reddy also said that the Bouddha Vanam project would be the centre of attraction in the State. The MD, APTDC, Raymond Peter and the Joint Collector B.Sridhar and the Suryapet MLA V.Venkaiah were also present.

I-T moves into Andhra towns

HYDERABAD, Feb. 4: I-T in Andhra Pradesh has finally begun spreading from the cities and into towns with chief minister Dr YS Rajashekar Reddy inaugurating the Godavari I-T Hub at the port town of Kakinada.

The Godavari Hub would begin with the modest 14,000 square feet before spreading itself on 60 acres that would be allotted to the Software Technology Parks of India. Dr Reddy said ten more I-T hubs would be created in small towns across the state. Dr Reddy has been of the firm belief that the best destination for investment, after the twin cities, is on the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada belt in coastal Andhra. n SNS
The Statesman

http://eenadu.net/district/districtshow1.asp?dis=westgodavari

CM's promises to TadepalliGudem, West Godawari Dist.

Udyana University... more details and formation after April 2007
Air Port... on vacant land at old airport and buy private lands if need be
District Addl Court ... if High Court doesn't have an objection
Auto Nagar ... if beneficiaries pay their share of money
Godawari - Eluru canal... dredging works will be completed
Enamarru drain... Rs. 51 crore to increase capacity
Upputeru... Tenders soon to do dredging works

== Deccan Chronicle
Hindujas table new power proposal

Hyderabad, Feb. 5: The Hindujas are back in the State with a proposal to set up a 4,000 MW power plant in Visakhapatnam. Though the Congress government is getting ready to meet a delegation of the Hinduja National Power Company on February 8, it is not prepared to be overenthusiastic about the proposal. Mr Jannat Hussain, principal secretary to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, said that the government had made it clear to the company that the State was not going to buy power at exorbitant rates. “They want to set up a mercantile power station which means that they can sell power to anybody in the country,” said Mr Hussain. “We will not give any counter guarantee for the project.” A high-level delegation of the company met the chief minister last week to discuss the fresh proposal. Sources said that a senior congress leader in Delhi was lobbying for the company. In 1999, the group had wanted to set up a 500 MW plant and the State government had literally gifted it 1,200 acres of land. But the high power tariff of Rs 5.7 per unit proposed by the company was not acceptable to the government and the project was shelved. A shocked government refused to give counter guarantee and financial institutions backed out and did not give loans. Following this, the project was shelved. Meanwhile, the price of land allotted to the Hindujas rose up. The land was allotted at Rs 2.5 lakh per acre by the government, but the price is now hovering around Rs 1 crore per acre. “Hindujas may have an eye on the rising prices of land in the area,” said an energy department official. “I guess that is why they have come up with a fresh proposal”.Officials are not too keen on giving so much land for the power plant, which will start production only after seven years. This time, the Hindujas want 1,900 acres in rapidly growing Visakhapatnam to set up the power project.

Wider roads for Guntur city
PM News Bureau
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved a plan to widen roads measuring up to 120 ft and set up mega townships and a truck terminal in Guntur city.

The Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority has entrusted Speck Consultants with the task of preparing a master plan to redraw the contours of the city and create lasting civic amenities like roads, traffic junctions and other infrastructure facilities. The master plan has been devised keeping in mind the growth of the city in the next 25 years.

According to the plan, Mangalagiri road, Ring Road, Narasaraopet road and Chilakaluripet road will be widened to 120 ft. Buildings coming in the way of the road projects would be demolished and compensation paid to their owners. A truck terminal at Ankireddypalem on the city outskirts would also be constructed.
[29 January 2007]

IMO, AP cities are growing due to a good influx of ppl from rural areas. these cities should be planned well and be made user-friendly even if that means short-term pain in the butt. Vizag, Kakinada, Guntur, Tirupati, Nellore, Cudappah, Kurnool, Warangal, Karimnagar, Mahboobnagar, and Nizamabad are some of the cities that are going to witness a good deal of expansion in the coming decades.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/07/stories/2007020718470300.htm
Pinakini Express to touch Guntur

GUNTUR: The Vijayawada to Chennai Pinakini Express will travel via Guntur from April, MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao has said.

At a meeting of MPs from Vijayawada and Guntur railway division region called by the SCR at Hyderabad on Tuesday the SCR decided to divert the train between Vijayawada and Tenali via New Guntur railway station. The proposals put forward by Mr. Sambasiva Rao in his constituency were considered.

The meeting in principle decided to divert the Machilipatnam-Manmad Express via Guntur for Shirdi passengers, the Chirala-Tirupati train would be extended to Guntur; and Secunderabad-Vijayawada Inter-City Express extended to Guntur, Mr. Sambasiva Rao said. Travellers of the Delta Fast Passengers also had something to cheer about as the SCR decided to revert to old timings as there were many complaints.

The authorities, however, expressed inability to divert the Ahmedabad-Chennai Navajeevan Express, Kakinada-Bangalore Seshadri Express, Vijayawada-Chennai Janashatapdi Express, Tamil Nadu and Kerala Express trains until the Guntur-Krishna Canal railway line doubling was completed.

The MP also demanded re-introduction of the Machilipatnam-Goa Fast Passenger as it had historical importance. The officials positively responded to his demand for constructing the eighth platform on Arundelpet side.

State gears up to end L&T’s double deal
DeccanChronicle

Hyderabad, Feb. 7: The State government is unhappy that construction giant Larsen and Toubro is hesitating to take up the Rs 1,000-crore ship building unit in Kakinada, despite being given several incentives. L&T had submitted a draft memorandum of understanding in October 2006 and had sought several incentives from the government for taking up the project including subsidised power and land.

Though the government agreed to almost all of the company’s demands, the project did not take off on time. Now, the government has learnt that the company was simultaneously negotiating with the Tamil Nadu government for a similar project near Ennore port. "We agreed to all their demands but they wanted more," said a senior official. "We will be writing to L&T, asking it to clarify whether it aims to take up the project".

The State government is confident that other companies would also be keen on taking up the project. L&T had proposed a dry dock area for repairing ships along with the building unit. It sought special economic zone status and 600 acres of land besides incentives such as power subsidy. It proposed to build ships of 60,000 DWT to 1 lakh DWT. Though officials are displeased with the ways of L&T, they admit that the company is the best bet for the project. It owns a ship building unit in Hazira of Gujarat. If L&T continues to hesitate, the government will invite global tenders for the project

AP inks $225 m loan deal with World Bank
[ 9 Feb, 2007 0305hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: Two agreements relating to the Third Andhra Pradesh Economic Reform Loan/Credit (APERL-III) from the World Bank (WB) were signed in New Delhi on Thursday.

Madhusudan Prasad, joint secretary, ministry of finance, signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of India while Rachid Benmessaoud, operations adviser, signed on behalf of the World Bank. P Ramakanth Reddy, special chief secretary, finance, represented the government of Andhra Pradesh.

The $ 225 million (Rs 1012.5 crore) Third Andhra Pradesh Economic Reform Loan/Credit was approved by the World Bank on January 11, 2007, of which $ 150 million is the IBRD loan and the remaining $ 75 million equivalent is the credit from IDA.

The IBRD loan is payable in 20 years, including a five year grace period. The IDA credit will be on standard terms with 35 years maturity and 10 years grace period.

This programme will help the state to increase spending on primary education, health and welfare sectors. It will also provide incentive to the state government to pursue the reform programme in a focussed manner in view of its structuring. At least 60 per cent of the proceeds of APERL-III would be used for swapping high cost debt.

APERL-III is the third loan/credit under the Andhra Pradesh Economic Reform Loan Programme being executed with World Bank assistance. The first loan/credit under this programme, APERL-I, was signed in March 2002 for an amount of $ 250 million while APERL-II was signed in February 2004 for $ 220 million. The WB expressed satisfaction over the utilisation of the two packages by the state government.

Centre nod for uranium project in Kadapa times news network
[ 9 Feb, 2007 0303hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved the land acquisition for the proposed Tummalapalle uranium mining and milling project in chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's home district Kadapa.

At its meeting in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the CCEA gave its approval for depositing an amount of Rs.13.7 crore with the government of Andhra Pradesh for acquiring the land.

The project is being set up by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy. The approval of the project will pave the way for the expeditious completion of the mill which is expected to increase the much-needed fuel supply for the ambitious nuclear power programme in the country, a government spokesman said.

Besides developing the area, the project will also provide direct employment to about 1,000 persons, including those affected by the project. The mining project in Kadapa is estimated to cost Rs 10.3 billion ($ 224 million). The project involves the extraction of uranium from underground mines in 879 hectares spread over five villages — Mabbuchintalapalle, Thummalapalle, Rajukuntapalle, Bhoomayagaripalle and Kottala — in Vemula mandal in the district.

"Though the uranium concentration is said to be a meagre 0.039 per cent, UCIL expects to extract 3,000 tonnes of ore every day, and the plant would require 17.85 MW of power for extracting the uranium. The lifespan of the project is stated to be 30 years," the source said.

To allay the apprehensions about the impact of uranium mining, the UCIL recently conducted a public hearing. A 25-member delegation, including those from the affected villages, was also taken to a similar project in Jaduguda in Jharkhand.

Left parties and NGOs, however, are opposing the setting up of the plant.

GoAP should carefully maneuvre and handle the L&T proposal. the most important rule: don't piss of L&T and show everybody that AP can get you into trouble if you even show any kind of interest in setting up there and end up going to somewhere else.

secondly, if need be, call an international tender with Centre's approval to build a world-class ship-building unit. but to do this, Centre and State should prolly have to chip-in money to the extent of atleast 25% of the total project cost. but this should be last resort if it seems like L&T is not coming here. the strategy is simple: show L&T that Kakinada area is one of the best areas to build a ship-building unit and there is global interest to build such a manufacturing plant here. that will def make them rethink if they want to go to some other state, b/c of the advantages of the locality and most importantly, the very attractive incentives given by GoAP. and another added advantage will be that Vizag port, Krishnapatnam port, and the new Gangavaram port are closeby and there will def be a lot of naval/marine activity going on in this region.

Resorts to come up at Kolleru
Dendulur (West Godavari), Feb. 10: Kolleru will be developed as a potential tourism destination by providing various facilities like resorts, guest houses, hotels and other amenities at a cost of Rs 8 crores by the State government, minister for tourism J. Geeta Reddy said.

Accompanied by Eluru MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Dendulur MLA Maganti Babu and district officials, the minister visited Kolleru lake at Pothunur of this mandal on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Geeta Reddy said that Kolleru lake was internationally acclaimed for hosting a wide variety of migratory birds from several parts of the world and expressed concern for converting it into a fish tank spread over 35,000 acres.

Referring to the Operation Kolleru taken up earlier, the minister said that the commitment on the part of the State government supported by the Supreme Court and the Pollution Control Board helped them take up such a massive drive to demolish the encroachments in order to restore the past glory of the lake.

The minister said as a result, nearly 43 varieties of Siberian birds travelling more than 8,000 km were arriving to the lake after 20 years. Ms Reddy said that the Congress government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy was coming up with a grand plan for developing Kolleru by taking financial assistance from the World Bank and the Central Bank, in addition to providing self-employment to the local people in the project.

She said that the government was also planning to provide compensation to the affected persons during the clean-up drive. The minister said, "It is time to develop Kolleru as a tourism centre of international repute by providing all the necessary facilities with the active involvement of government and the public representatives." The minister was accompanied by State tourism commissioner Sambasiva Rao, State Pollution Control Board secretary Rajeswar Tiwari and collector Luv Agarwal.

AP's investment climate lures FIs abroad
Sunday February 11 2007 00:00 IST Newindpress
HYDERABAD: After World Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), several external lending agencies from Europe and Middle Asia are evincing keen interest to fund infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Positive investment climate coupled with assured returns at reasonable interest is prompting the lending agencies to explore possible areas of investment. According to sources, Germany's leading lending institution KFW is likely to fund at least 70 percent of a Rs 4,000 crore mega power project in Krishnapatnam. An official delegation of KFW visited the state capital a couple of days ago and held discussions with the government and Genco officials. Finer details are being worked out and it is a matter of time KFW comes out with an official announcement.

The ADB, which has already funded a few infrastructure projects, is understood to have evinced interest to fund new projects of AP Genco. The Genco officials are in touch with the ADB.

Bankers from Middle Asia countries like Ukraine have begun negotiations with the State Govt and in all probability they would come up with concrete proposals, sources told this website's newspaper.

JBIC is showing interest to finance projects like Rs 3,000 crore Outer Ring Road, Rs 3,500 crore Hyderabad Metro and Rs 1,800 crore High-Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) of APTransco and over Rs 1,000 crore thermal power plant at Bhupalapalli. It has already approved Rs 1,500 crore loan for irrigation projects.

On the other hand, the World Bank, which recently released Rs 750 crore structural adjustment loan (SAL III) is expected to fund at least Rs 5,000 crore the next three to four years.
NEWINDPRESS

Standoff ends, costly Gail gas gives State a power boost
DC
Hyderabad, Feb. 12: Gas Authority of India Limited (Gail) resumed supply of gas from its Ravva fields to the four private generating stations but at a higher price from Monday. While consumers will pay the extra charge, the power-strapped State received a boost with GVK, Spectrum, Lanco and Reliance (BSES) generating about 150 megawatts more. Gail supplied 0.65 million cubic metres on Monday.

The breakthrough came with a judgment late last week by the AP High Court. The APTransco and the four IPPs "reluctantly" agreed to take gas from Gail at the rate of $4.3 per million metric British thermal units (mmbtu). Gail had consistently refused to reduce the price of gas, and had stopped supply in September last year after the power utilities refused to pay more.

The four IPPs have a combined generation capacity of 1,100 MW. With gas from ONGC, these stations were generating about 890 MW. On Monday, they began generating another 150 MW with the gas from Gail, taking the total to about 1,040 MW.

This came as a big relief to the State, which is reeling under severe power shortage. The State was experiencing an average shortage of 600 MW, and the additional power took the shortage down to 450 MW. Consumers will have to pay about more Rs 58 crores per annum. "Gail used to supply gas at $3.3 mmbtu, the hike is more than 30 per cent," said APTransco managing director Rachel Chatterji.

"The High Court has directed that we go to an appropriate forum for adjudication to decide the final price," she said. The court also directed Gail to adjust the difference in price in future bills after the final price is decided, added Ms Chatterji. However, Transco and government officials are sceptical about the adjustment, as gail has refused to repay or adjust Rs 650 crores paid in the form of transportation charges...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021405150900.htm

`Include 5 A.P. rail projects in budget'

HYDERABAD: CPI(M) MP P. Madhu has written to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to include five railway line projects in the ensuing budget.

The lines are: Kovvur-Bhadrachalam, Pandurangapuram-Sarapaka, Kotipalli -Narsapur, Bibinagar-Nadikudi-Guntur and Nizamabad-Adilabad.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021410520400.htm

State hopeful of a bio-tech bounty

HYDERABAD: The State Government is expecting investments of more than Rs. 700 crores by bio-tech companies for setting up their facilities in the Genome Valley in Hyderabad.

At a press meet on Tuesday, Raveen K. Reddy, Additional Secretary (Industries), said that the Bangalore-based Biocon was in talks with the Government for establishing a unit either in Genome Valley-III or in Visakhapatnam.

B. P. Acharya, Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, said 600 acres had been identified for Genome Valley's third phase, including a 60-acre Special Economic Zone in Medak district.
Meanwhile, leaders in the field of biotechnology, scientists, diplomats and entrepreneurs will attend the three-day `Bio-Asia-2007' to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on February 15.

Billed as Asia's premier biotechnology event, more than 50 exhibitors and 500 delegates, attending the fourth edition, being hosted by the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) and the State Government.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD Biocon, would chair the `CEO conclave'. The event would also see the launch of Bio-Asia Innovation Award 2007 for a young scientist. It carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and a citation

AP govt, AAI in pact for expanding airports
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2007 08:00:26 PM]
HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government has signed an MoU with the Airports Authority of India for expanding Vijayawada and Rajahmunry airports. While the government is planning to invest over Rs 70 crore for developing Vijayawada airport, Rajahmundry will receive about Rs 53 crore for renovation, according to a state government release.

Spread over 536 acres, the airport in Vijyawada has facilities for night landing and refueling. As per the new agreement, the government is planning to build a new terminal building for handling 300 passengers at an investment of Rs 30 crore. "We are also investing Rs 33 crore for strengthening and extending runway to 7,500 feet initially for A320/321 type aircraft. Eventually, the runway will be made suitable for the operations of wide-bodied aircraft," the release said. A Doppler very high frequency omni range (DVOR) will also be installed at the airport at an investment of Rs 2 crore besides the Rs 5-crore upgradation planned for constructing a modern fire station.

The government is planning to invest Rs 3 crore at the Rajahmundry airport for introducing night landing facility. "The airport has an area of 365.5 acres. We are also planning to construct a new terminal at a cost of Rs 18 crore and the work will start next financial year," the release said. Plans are also being finalized for runway extension and land expansion at an estimated investment of Rs 30 crore.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/15/stories/2007021505090600.htm
Three airports in A.P. to be expanded

...Vijayawada airport ...A Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR) navigation aid would be provided there. Upgradation of the existing night landing facility with a second circuit for runway lights, fire station would be taken up. In Rajahmundry, a new terminal building to handle 150 passengers (now the capacity is just 10) would be constructed. Night-landing facility and DVOR would be provided. These three facilities would cost Rs. 23 crore.

In respect of Tirupati airport, the Chief Minister asked the AAI to furnish the land requirement.

Source: Economic times epaper

THE GOVERNMENT of Ras Al Khaimah is planning to invest Rs 9,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh to set up an alumina plant and aluminium smelter that is used in the production of ceramic tiles. The government of Andhra Pradesh has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ras Al Khaimah government on Wednesday to assure supply of bauxite used in alumina production, according to a statement from the chief minister’s office on Wednesday. Ras Al Khaimah, part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is one of the largest producers of ceramic tiles in the world.
The alumina plant, which will be set up in Jerrela in Visakhapatnam district, will have a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes while the aluminium smelter will have 0.25 tonnes capacity. The plants will be assured of bauxite deposits available in Jerrela on a longterm contract basis from AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC). APMDC will mine and supply 224 million tones of bauxite deposit that falls in Jerrela group of villages for the alumina plant. The price of bauxite will be decided by a high-level committee to be set up by the state government.
The government of Ras Al Khaimah proposes to complete the units within 36 months of getting clearances. The production unit will come up outside the tribal area and about 0.5% of the turnover of the company will be allocated for tribal welfare, according to the statement. The project has a scope for providing direct and indirect employment to over 10,000 people.

more industries for Visakha!!! I think this city is already the heavy industries manufacturing hub of India and its position is only being strengthened. also, with ports coming up in Machilipatnam and Gangavaram and Vizag Port's expansion, more industries will def invest here.

but one negative point still remains: the bad airport infrastructure. they need to privatise Vizag airport and build a new one....seriously, Vizag, along with other cities like Tiruvananthapuram, Pune, and others, is a growing city and Centre should start making plans to privatise the airports of these second tier cities.

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20070215/17464.htm

Pilkington to set up glass manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh




Glass manufacturing firm Pilkington Automotive India Private Limited Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh government for setting up a manufacturing plant for glass and glazing products.

UK-based Pilkington, one of the world's largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for building and automotive markets, proposes to set up manufacturing operations in Achutapuram Mandal in Visakhapatnam district state with an investment of Rs.6.75 billion in a phased manner over a period of five years.

The MoU was signed by Stephan Rosebroch, Director, Pilkington Automotive, India and S. Bhattacharya, Commissioner of Industries of the state government, in the presence of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy here Wednesday evening.

In the first phase, the company intends to establish laminated windscreen facility with an investment of Rs.750 million. In the second and third phases, it plans to establish toughened and float glass manufacturing facilities. The overall project would create employment for about 1,500 people.

The first phase of manufacturing facility is targeted to be operationalised by May next year.

The company, which has manufacturing operations in 24 countries and sales operations in over 130 countries, has already incorporated its Indian subsidiary after having obtained approval for 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

State government officials said the company would be extended the benefits as per Industrial Investment Promotion Policy.





more manufacturing muscle for Visakhapatnam! and this one is a glass manufacturing one too.

link to news..... (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/JSW_Steel_plans_to_more_than_double_steel_output/articleshow/1619236.cms)

NEW DELHI: JSW Steel Ltd. plans to more than double steel output to 10 million tonnes a year by 2010, from 4 million tonnes now, a senior official said on Thursday.

In the decade to 2020, it would look to raise capacity by another 30 million tonnes, Jayant Acharya said at a conference.

Another company official, who declined to be identified, said work on an integrated aluminium project in south India was likely to begin within six months.

The plant will be built at Escota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and will have an annual alumina capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, aluminium output of 250,000 tonnes, and a 900 MW power plant.

It is likely to be commissioned in two to three years.

http://i9.tinypic.com/2di0l87.jpg
Rythu Bazar - Andhra Pradesh (sponsored by GoAP).
Photo (Thanks to): Reflections On Life's photos @ flickr

http://i12.tinypic.com/3348dmp.jpg
Rythu Bazar - Andhra Pradesh (sponsored by GoAP).
Photo (Thanks to): Reflections On Life's photos @ flickr

AP attracts Rs 93,000 crore investment proposals
Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad | February 19, 2007 17:46 IST Rediff.com

The Andhra Pradesh government has cleared industrial investment proposals worth Rs 93,000 crore (Rs 930 billion) during 2006, which constitutes 10.2 per cent of the entire investment in the country.

"Our state stands in second position after Maharashtra when it comes to attracting investments," Finance Minister K Rosaiah told the State Legislative Assembly while presenting the State Budget for 2007-08 on Monday.

"... For the first time, the power tariff for the industry was reduced, making it the most competitive in the country. For small-scale and new industries, we are providing a subsidy of 75 paise per unit of power," he explained.

"... First Phase works of the prestigious semi-conductor manufacturing facility-FAB City -- are already underway. The second phase will be started as soon as the Central government announces the semi-conductor policy," he added.

The Apache factory manufacturing shoes at Tada in Nellore district has already commenced production. The expansion programme of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant budgeted at Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion) has already commenced. The government has recently cleared Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) proposal of MLR Motors project for setting up car manufacturing...

...the government has identified 31 special economic zones for setting up of IT units in different districts and necessary infrastructure is being provided. Warangal, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Vijayawada and Tirupati are being promoted as Tier-II IT hubs in the state.

...The state budget for 2007-08 earmarks Rs 1,750 crore (Rs 17.50 billion) for construction and maintenance of roads. The government has also taken up expansion of 12 non-major ports for enhancing the cargo handling capacity from the existing 18 million tonnes per annum to 100 million tonnes by 2012. Works are going on at a rapid pace at ports like Gangavaram, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam and Machilipatnam. In fact, it is planned to bring Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam ports into operation by 2008.

... the expansion of airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Puttaparty would be taken up immediately and Memorandum of Understanding for development of airports at Warangal and Kadapa was reached with Airports Authority of India recently. Simultaneously, techno-economic feasibility for development of Greenfield airports at Nellore, Ongole, Ramagundam and Tadepalligudem would be taken up.

... more capacity would be added as the natural gas needed for power production is being made available. In all, 8,963 megawatts capacity is going to be added to the existing capacity in power sector during the XI Plan period (2007-2012). Besides, a major power project of 4,000 MW capacity at Krishnapatnam and the 1,000 MW expansion project at Simhadri are being taken up in the state during the XI plan period.

"The new Hyderabad international airport will be ready for operation by the end of next financial year.... constructing Outer Ring Road with an outlay of Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion). Flyovers are being constructed at important junctions. Mass Rapid Transport System (Metro Rail) is proposed to be established with an estimated cost of Rs 8,760 crore (Rs 87.60 billion). An expressway project... is being planned with Rs 600 crore (Rs 6 billion)," ...

Power Sector:

1. 8963 Mw of power capacity to be added in the next 5 years.
2. 4000 Mw Ultra Mega Power Project, the tenders for which are likely to be placed in April.
3. 1000 Mw expansion project at Simhadri.


Ports and Maritime activities:

1. expand the cargo handling capacity of non-major ports from 18 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes by 2012.
2. Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram are two non-major ports which are being actively built and will prolly come into operation by the end of the coming fiscal year.



Airports:

1. expansion of Vizag, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Puttaparthi, Warangal, and Kadappah.






these are all things that stood out to me. hope it helps as a jist of the projects in AP that we can def expect will happen in the next 5 years.

education spending has been increased by 40% to Rs. 823 crores. this is pretty good, though i think spending anything less than 1000 crores is not investing in the future. but still, i am happy the gov't realises the importance of education right from the primary level. hopefully, the figure touches 1200 to 1300 crore next year.

Deccan Chronicle
France keen on aviation varsity in city

Hyderabad, Feb. 19: The efforts of the State government to set up an aviation university in the city got a fillip with the French delegation of academicians showing interest in collaborating with the proposed university. AP State Council of Higher Education chairman K.C. Reddy told this correspondent that a meeting was being organised on Wednesday with higher officials of Edufrance, a French government agency promoting French education in the international arena, to discuss the university.

"They (the French) are very strong in the aviation sector and we will explore the possibilities of utilising their expertise," Prof .Reddy said. Earlier, he inaugurated the two-day Indo French academic meet at Hyderabad International Convention Centre. Edufrance president Gerald Binder said the government and institutions in France were not interested merely in admitting Indian students but is looking forward for promoting scientific mobility between the two countries. India and particularly Hyderabad is our priority, he said.

Rosaiah roots for rural folk
[ 20 Feb, 2007 0354hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: The YSR government on Monday presented a deficit budget of Rs 58.09 crore for the year 2007-08 with an expenditure of Rs 48,023.43 crore under non-plan and Rs 32,973.17 crore under plan.

...the highest amount of Rs 13,000 crore for irrigation, Rs 4793 crore for housing, Rs 2273 crore for rural development, Rs 1842 crore for urban development. ...

The budget estimates for the next financial year on account of power is Rs 2653.78 crore...

A new university for Nalgonda, 21st century gurukulams in the state, horticulture university in West Godavari, branch of petroleum university Dehra Dun in East Godavari and Jawahar Knowledge centres...

... to extend the pilot project of 24-hour water supply being implemented in Adikmet in Hyd to other parts...

... Rs 4442 crore will be invested to manage the sewerage system in Hyd...

... work on the second phase of Fab City would start soon and Warangal, Vizag, Kakinada, Vijayawada and Tirupati would be developed as tier-II IT hubs.

Kadapa district soon to establish a nuclear power plant
Tuesday February 20 2007 00:00 IST
HYDERABAD: In view of resistance to the location of a nuclear power plant in Srikakulam district, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday volunteered to accommodate it in his native Kadapa district.

Intervening during Question Hour in the Assembly, he said that the proposal for taking up the uranium mining project was already under process in Kadapa and if the conditions favoured, the plant would also be set up in the district.

Chief Minister said that an investment of Rs 1,000 crore would flow into Kadapa district on account of the uranium project and it would generate immense employment opportunities. The two villages in the district where the project was to be located were strongholds of Congress, he pointed out.

Youth of the two villages, who visited uranium project in Jharkhand, have welcomed uranium project in their place, the Chief Minister said. Referring to the recent public hearing on the project, the Chief Minister said that locals never opposed the project but some outsiders were against it.

He assured that the government would take all care before allowing uranium project in the district. Pulivendula constituency would be developed as a model to inspire other constituencies. Already micro irrigation project was taken up in Pulivendula.

AP attracts Rs 93,000 crore investment proposals
Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad | February 19, 2007 17:46 IST Rediff.com

Is the Rs 93,000 crore investment proposals attracted only during the year 2006 or up to the end of 2006 ever since the begining of liberalisation?Can u give data as to the number and amount of such investments actually grounded.

education spending has been increased by 40% to Rs. 823 crores. this is pretty good, though i think spending anything less than 1000 crores is not investing in the future. but still, i am happy the gov't realises the importance of education right from the primary level. hopefully, the figure touches 1200 to 1300 crore next year.

It is imperative to make higher budgetry allocation and also actually spend on education.A.P is lagging behind all the southern states in literacy.The literacy percentage is lower than the All india average.In A.P a small percentage of the population benefit from higher education ( mostly well to do forward castes) and get thru competitive exams and obtain seats in IITs,Bits Pilani and top management schools.majority of the backward classes who constitute 50% of the population of the state lag behind in education.It gives an impression to others that A.P is doing very well in education while the ground reality is quite different.

well, where is the investment in primary and secondary education in rural areas??? without that, i don't see the situation improving. because, if the backward classes have to come up, the gov't should start right from the primary level. otherwise those who can afford will send kids to private schools and get them educated while public education lags behind and so the condition of the backward ppls.

Deccan Chronicle
New 777 Boeing to be named after AP

New Delhi, Feb. 20: State-owned international carrier Air India will name the first of its new Boeing 777 aircraft (that will be acquired in May this year) after "the State of Andhra Pradesh". Air India has decided to name its fleet of new Boeing 777s after the States of India."The first aircraft will be named after the state of Andhra Pradesh since Andhra Pradesh comes first in the alphabetic order," Air India chairman and managing director V. Thulasidas told this newspaper. "Earlier, we used to name our aircraft after Indian historical figures, Indian mountain ranges and rivers. But now we have decided to name our new fleet of Boeing 777s after the various States of India," Mr Thulasidas said. For instance, the words "State of Andhra Pradesh" will be inscribed on the first Boeing 777 acquired.

"This will help in co-branding of the state as well. In fact, the states after which the aircraft is being named can also send us promotional material on the state about aspects such as tourism and we will show it as part of the in-flight content," the Air India chairman said.

hmm....so new Boeing 777s will be named after Indian States. it would be quite a feat for a foreigner to say Andhra Pradesh...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/21/stories/2007022108170400.htm
Two major ports to go on stream next year

HYDERABAD: Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding them, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam ports will commence commercial operations in March and June next year respectively.

Having secured all the statutory clearances for project execution, work is progressing briskly at Gangavaram, an environment-friendly port. The socio-economic survey report for the year 2006-07 tabled in the Assembly by Finance Minister K. Rosaiah says that it was being developed as an all-weather port.

It would become the deepest port with round-the-clock operations and state-of-the-art cargo handling equipment. Commercial operations at Gangavaram are slated to begin in March next. Similarly, the Krishnapatnam Greenfield port in Nellore is scheduled to commence operations in June 2008.

The ports are expected to handle 173 million tonnes of cargo 15 years from now.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/21/stories/2007022108170400.htm



good to see the development momentum going on...these ports will go a long way in positioning AP as a strong industrial hub.

The road and rail infra around these ports are just adequate for handling the current level of traffic at this time. Lets hope, the authorities would plan ahead and develop the road and rail connectivities to the new ports, so they would become more successful.

hmm....so new Boeing 777s will be named after Indian States. it would be quite a feat for a foreigner to say Andhra Pradesh...

The first time I saw this news, I thought, it would be tough for many foreigners to read the names of states (tung twisters) and understand what they mean... and I thought, instead of state names, may be, city names would have been a better choice.

but then, I thought, as they get to see these names often times, they get curious, they get used to, and seek to learn more about these states...

some kind of positive advertisement for the states of India...
sounds like a great idea...

State gears up to end L&T’s double deal
DeccanChronicle

Hyderabad, Feb. 7: The State government is unhappy that construction giant Larsen and Toubro is hesitating to take up the Rs 1,000-crore ship building unit in Kakinada, despite being given several incentives. L&T had submitted a draft memorandum of understanding in October 2006 and had sought several incentives from the government for taking up the project including subsidised power and land.

Though the government agreed to almost all of the company’s demands, the project did not take off on time. Now, the government has learnt that the company was simultaneously negotiating with the Tamil Nadu government for a similar project near Ennore port. "We agreed to all their demands but they wanted more," said a senior official. "We will be writing to L&T, asking it to clarify whether it aims to take up the project".

The State government is confident that other companies would also be keen on taking up the project. L&T had proposed a dry dock area for repairing ships along with the building unit. It sought special economic zone status and 600 acres of land besides incentives such as power subsidy. It proposed to build ships of 60,000 DWT to 1 lakh DWT. Though officials are displeased with the ways of L&T, they admit that the company is the best bet for the project. It owns a ship building unit in Hazira of Gujarat. If L&T continues to hesitate, the government will invite global tenders for the project

http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20070221075134126&dir=2007/02/21&secID=livenews
L&T plans Rs 10 bn mega shipyard
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (21 February 2007)

With demand soaring and the waiting period for ships extending beyond three years anywhere in the world, engineering major Larsen & Toubro (Q, N,C,F)* (L&T) plans to make an initial investment of Rs 10 billion to build India`s largest shipyard, reports Hindustan Times.

The new shipyard is likely to come up in the southern port city of Chennai by the end of 2008 or in early 2009, and will be the country`s first shipyard equipped to build very large crude carriers (VLCCs) with a capacity of 300,000-350,000 dwt (dead weight tonnage or tons, a measure of the cargo-carrying capacity of a ship).

A team led by S. Sreekumar, former director of operations at Cochin Shipyard, has already begun work on the yard. The greenfield yard, spread across 1,500 acre, will have the capacity to build five very large crude carriers, 20 Suezmax carriers and repair 50-60 ships a year. A Suezmax carrier is a tanker that can pass through the Suez Canal when fully loaded and usually has a capacity between 120,000 dwt and 200,000 dwt.

L&T`s decision to build a shipyard comes at a time when global shipyards are booked until 2009-2010.

With capacity in traditional ship-building countries such as Japan, Korea and Norway booked for the next few years, fleet owners have started looking at new destinations such as China and India.
ok. its about time for GoAP to invite global tenders.

State gears up to end L&T’s double deal
DeccanChronicle



http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20070221075134126&dir=2007/02/21&secID=livenews

ok. its about time for GoAP to invite global tenders.

um, why?

State gears up to end L&T’s double deal
DeccanChronicle



http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20070221075134126&dir=2007/02/21&secID=livenews

ok. its about time for GoAP to invite global tenders.



i agree. in this part of AP, there is strong demand from industries for greater port access and more and more industries are coming in. with YSR having many ppl in LS and AP being a politically important state for Congress, GoAP should def use this occasion to start global tenders in a couple of months for a mega shipyard. i am sure this will bring huge response and will become a success.

um, why?

L&T has earlier approached to build a ship building yard in Kaiknada. GoAP has aquired land for the purpose, accepted most of the benefits asked and conditions laid down by L&T. Kakinada has a deep sea port and lots of land and little economic growth. So, the ppl of this region have been anxiously waiting for L&T to start their project. Then, without any indication to GoAP, L&T changed their plans and decided on Chennai for their project, which they are free to do so.

In this back ground, having promised to the ppl of the region and aquired land for the purpose, GoAP wants to explore and float global tenders to invite foreign players to come and build a ship building yard here...

Since L&T has made their plans clear, GoAP does't have to wait any more on this plan. It looks like there are no other Indian companies interested in ship building business at this time. Hence global tenders...

Double disappointment... ONGC has already gone back on their plans to build a major refinery here in the recent past. So, the ppl of the region are a lil bit upset with GoAP on that. Now the L&T is gone. So, GoAP has to do some thing (big) to keep the ppl happy, esp, since the Assembly elections are due (2009?)...

ONGC being forced to execute Kakinada project
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (21 February 2007)

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which had decided to withdraw from a proposed 7.5 mtpa refinery at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, may be forced to execute the project on a greater scale following directions from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to petroleum minister Murli Deora, reports Financial Express.

ONGC, which had cited unviability as the reason for backing out, is now looking at developing a 15-MTPA refinery at Kakinada. The doubling of capacity, according to its consultant Engineers India (EIL), will definitely make the project economically viable. At the same time, the move will also raise the project cost to Rs 220 billion from the earlier Rs 120 billion.

Deora said that he has been asked by the PM to tell ONGC (Q, N,C,F)* to review its decision to withdraw from the project. ``It is wrong on the part of ONGC to dump a project after having publicly announced it as such decisions raised the hopes of the state. It is not correct to back out from the project,`` he added.

Deora said he was also writing to the Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy that ONGC stood committed to developing this project in the state.

ONGC executives said a lukewarm response by EIL on the project economics and the concurrent planned expansion of existing refineries in the east coast—HPCL-Visakhapatnam, CPCL-Chennai and IOC`s proposed refinery at Paradeep— forced the state-run company to take a re-look at its investment plans for Kakinada.

Shares of the company ended at Rs 875.60, down by Rs 29.30, or 3.24% at the BSE. Total volume of shares traded was 298,103. (Tuesday 3:55 p.m)
Congress is trying hard. Kakinada could be a major determinig factor for congress in the on coming elections in both the (East & West) Godawari districts...

you mean a tender?? or an international advertisement ???

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022203220600.htm
Congress suffers setback in A.P. civic polls

TDP retains Rajahmundry, Congress wrests Hindupur

HYDERABAD: Trouble from rebels, differences among party leaders and rise in prices have caused a setback to the Congress in the elections to the Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry Municipal Corporations in Andhra Pradesh though it has salvaged some pride by wresting Hindupur Municipality from the Telugu Desam Party.

While the election in Viskhapatnam resulted in a hung civic body, voters in Rajahmundry gave a resounding verdict in favour of the TDP. While retaining its majority in Rajahmundry, the TDP bagged an absolute majority winning 29 out of 50 municipal divisions leaving the Congress way behind with a tally of 17. The remaining four seats were won by independents, three of them Congress rebels.

The Congress party wrested control of the municipality after a gap of nearly two and a half decades by a thin majority. Out of 38 wards in the civic body, the Congress and TDP won 18 each while the CPI, which contested the poll in alliance with the former, won the remaining two seats. The TDP's victory was so comprehensive in Rajahmundry that it secured a majority of above 500 votes in several divisions whereas the Congress party's margin at several places was below 100 votes. Congress party's aspirant for the Mayor post Kudipudi Vijayalakshmi was defeated while Aadireddy Veera Raghavamma of the TDP, who is tipped to be the First Citizen of the city, won handsomely by 1774 votes.
Rajahmundry is in East Godawari Dist, but geographically, it is the central point for the two districts.

you mean a tender?? or an international advertisement ???

its more like an advertisement.
Invitation for Expression of Interest...
Once they get some positive response, then they want to work on those leads and try to make it happen...

Andhra Bhoomi reports...
ONGC Refinery in Kakinada.

ONGC has come forward to establish the largest refinery in Kakinada. Cabinet approvals to follow. Works will comence soon. Rs 22,000 crore nvestment. ... 15 MTPA capacity in 2000 acres land ...
http://i19.tinypic.com/441rod4.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/29oo00n.jpg

well, if PM has told them to do so, they will have to do it.

The project has been originally proposed by ONGC itself.
Later, according to sources, Reliance has influenced ONGC to walk back, on the pretext that the first phase of the project would not be financially feasible bla bla bla...

Reliance had plans to take up this project for themselves at that time, but then Reliance had gone to Gujarat
At one stage, the farmers of the region even demanded their lands back, as ONGC developed cold feet...
YSR made several trips to Delhi and submitted representations to ONGC and Petrolium ministry...

So, The PM has intervened and asked the Petrolium Ministry to submit a detailed report on how ONGC has first proposed the project, and how they arrived at the conclusion of not being financially viable, and to re-consider their decision...

All is well that ends well. :) is it safe to celebrate yet ...

V’nagaram to K’valasa new rail line in 2 years
Wednesday February 21 2007 12:14 IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: Construction of a 38-km new railway line from Vizianagaram to Kothavalasa and 18-km-long fourth line from Kothavalasa to Simhachalam which were sanctioned in the last Railway Budget would be completed in the next two years, indicated Railway sources.

The pending works will be resumed immediately after arrival of Central funds. The construction of the third line would entail an expenditure of about Rs 100 crore and the fourth line another Rs 100 crore.

These lines will ease the railway traffic in the region significantly wherein the Vizianagaram station has emerged as a key railway player. Most of the goods trains which pass through Vizianagaram junction, transport c.oal to the NTPC at Vizag from Talcher besides the finished goods from the Vizag steel plant.

4,000 Mw Andhra project trips on red tape
Sapna Dogra / New Delhi February 21, 2007

The 4,000 Mw Krishnapatnam ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Andhra Pradesh seems to be stuck, thanks to the state government’s inability in resolving and expediting issues related to the project.

The UMPP was to be awarded by end of April. However, the state government is yet to decide on issues like port handling charges, permission for use of sea water, land acquisition and development of infrastructure for the project. Andhra Pradesh will be a major beneficiary from this UMPP, as the state would get 1,600 Mw of total 4,000 Mw generated. The special purpose vehicle (SPV) for Krishnapatnam is the Coastal Andhra Power Limited (CAPL), a subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

The SPV has identified a number of problems that need to be resolved before the UMPP gets a go-ahead. For one, the coastal project will require imported 12-14-Million-Metric-Tonnes coal annually, which in turn, requires excellent port services.

The Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited (KPCL) is in the process of developing the existing minor port into a deep water port on Build-Operate-Streamline-Transfer (BOST) basis; the comoabt has also signed . a concession agreement with the AP government.

However, there was a huge variation of Rs 61.35 in port handling charges given by KPCL, to what was proposed by CAPL. The CAPL port handling charges are based on rates set for Mundra, the coastal UMPP in Gujarat awarded to Tata Power in December.

The Centre has asked the Andhra Pradesh government to settle vexed issue of handling charges at the earliest. The CAPL had also asked for ‘in-principle’ clearance for the use of sea water for the power project, but is yet to be granted permission. Land acquisition is another issue that was highlighted by the SPV. The Nellore district magistrate was requested to allow land for the proposed power plant and ash dyke, but such a permission is far from being granted.

Further, on the proposals for the four-laning of a road and rail link between Venkatachalam and Krishnapatanam port, the Centre has asked the Andhra government to ensure the proposals are expedited at the earliest. The CAPL’s request for a no-objection certificate from the Principle Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Hyderabad is yet to be granted.

Congress is trying hard. Kakinada could be a major determinig factor for congress in the on coming elections in both the (East & West) Godawari districts...

Economics and feasability shud be the criteria not political consideration.The central Govt can withdraw permission for the expansion of refineries in vizag and chennai and also drop the proposed greenfield refinery project in paradip inorder to accomodate kakinada.

you mean a tender?? or an international advertisement ???

Nothing of that sorts.ONGC is not interested to take up the project despite pressure exerted by the congress MP from kakinada.It is still in limbo.

Reliance plans $400 mn jetty in Kakinada
Rakteem Katakey in New Delhi | February 23, 2007 01:31 IST

Reliance Industries, which has discovered gas reserves of nearly 14 trillion cubic feet in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, is building a gas-receiving jetty in Kakinada.

The jetty, estimated to cost $300-400 million, will receive the gas from the company's Dhirubhai-6 block and feed it to the proposed pipeline network the company plans to lay from Kakinada. "Huge infrastructure is going to come up in Kakinada, from where our pipelines will arise. Now that talks with Chevron are under way, the pipelines to western India, Bengal and Chennai will come up soon," a senior Reliance executive said.

Work on the jetty is already under way. Afcons Infrastructure is carrying out the construction. The Mukesh Ambani-controlled company is planning to lay a network of pipelines from Kakinada to market the gas from the K-G basin to different parts of the country. The pipeline projects have been held up as there are no definite marketing contracts yet.

The Reliance executive said the company was likely to set up a marketing joint venture with the US-based oil major Chevron. Chevron's chief executive officer David O'Reilly is on a four-day visit to India, and a slew of agreements was expected to be signed, the executive added.

Reliance struck gas in the D-6 block, 55 km off the Andhra Pradesh coast, in 2002. The block is estimated to produce up to 80 million standard cubic metres of gas a day at its peak, or more than half of the country's demand for natural gas.

The Mukesh Ambani-controlled company owns 80 per cent in the block. "Chevron is also interested in partnering us in the city gas distribution projects. Another partnership in the exploration and production business in the K-G basin is more or less assured," the official said. The partnership in the deep-water K-G basin block would entail Chevron providing technology to Reliance. Reliance has applied to city gas distribution licences in 100 cities across the country. The estimated cost of setting up a distribution network in a single city is around Rs 200 crore.

In April last year, Chevron bought 5 per cent stake for $300 million in Reliance Petroleum, the group company implementing the 29 million tonne per annum refinery in Jamnagar in Gujarat. The US-based company has the option to raise its stake to 29 per cent. "They are seriously considering raising stake in RPL. An announcement could be made soon," another Reliance executive said.

Reliance board meeting is scheduled for February 24 during which some of the fund-raising proposals are likely to be discussed.

ONGC may have to rethink Kakinada refinery project
New Delhi Feb. 21

ONGC may be compelled to reconsider the decision to shelve its plans to build a greenfield refinery project in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The Union Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora, said that he is going to hold a meeting with ONGC officials wherein he is going to ask them to reconsider their decision.

Speaking to newspersons here today, Mr Deora said, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, was very keen that the company must meet its commitment to build a refinery in that State. The Andhra Pradesh Government has been time and again holding talks with the Centre on the reported move by the ONGC to put its plans on the proposed project in Kakinada on hold.

Preliminary Study :The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister as well as the Petroleum Minister. ONGC had decided to defer its plans to invest in Kakinada Special Economic Zone and to develop an export-oriented refinery in Kakinada as preliminary reports about the feasibility of the project were not optimistic.

As per the preliminary study, the refinery size should be at least 15 million tonnes (mt) to make it viable, whereas the original proposal was for a 7.5-mt per annum refinery with an investment of over Rs 7,500 crore.

ONGC, along with its subsidiary Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), had inked two separate MoUs with the State Government and infrastructure lender during September last year. The first MoU was signed between the Andhra Pradesh Government, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) and Kakinada Seaports Ltd (KSPL) to promote the Kakinada SEZ through a special purpose vehicle called Kakinada Special Economic Zone Ltd.

The second related to setting up of an export-oriented refinery through a joint venture of ONGC-MRPL, the Andhra Pradesh Government and IL&FS.
Taken from Business Line. thehindubusinessline.in

Reliance Ind lines up Rs 7 bn for biodiesel plant
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (22 February 2007)

Reliance Industries is planning to set up the country`s first biodiesel refinery in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of around Rs 7 billion, reports Hindustan Times. US oil major Chevron is likely to help out with the technology.

Sources close to the development said this could be part of the discussions between David J. O`Reilly, chairman and CEO of Chevron, who is visiting India, and Mukesh Ambani, chairman RIL, when the two meet Feb. 23 at Jamnagar in Gujarat. An RIL spokesperson declined to comment on this.

RIL has ambitious plans for the biofuels business and is cultivating jatropha, a plant that can yield high quality biodiesel, in a 200-acre plot at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. ``The company will set up a pilot project at Kakinada this year and once economies of scale are ensured, it will start working on a full-fledged transesterification unit,`` said a senior RIL executive who did not wish to be identified. RIL has also earmarked a large plot of land in Gujarat for the cultivation of jatropha.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel similar to conventional or `fossil` diesel. It can be produced from vegetable oil, animal oil or fat, tallow and waste cooking oil. A recent report of the Energy Information Administration (EIA), an international agency that tracks the energy sector, estimates the demand for biodiesel at 25 million litres in 2010 and 28 million litres in 2020.
would this really happen ...

Deccan Chronicle
Plan to give facelift to Tadepalligudem town

Tadepalligudem, Feb. 23: Civic facilities will get a facelift as the municipal authorities plan to develop reserved areas and mini-parks in the wards, besides taking up renovation of the municipal office and other facilities in the town.

Speaking to newsmen here on Friday, municipal chairman E. Bhimasankara Rao said that they visited offices of Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and municipalities of Kukatpally, Kapra, Uppal and Suryapet as part of a study tour in order to find out how these civic bodies were providing services in the maintenance of sanitation, realisation of revenue and other activities recently.

Mr Rao said that a big park would be constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore in the town. He said a plan was being worked out for development of parks in wards with contributions from the residents. He said that the municipal office will be renovated at a cost of Rs 20 lakhs and a citizen resource centre will also be set up at a cost of Rs 16 lakhs. He said that the beautification of Eluru canal banks and construction of a footpath were some of the works to be taken up shortly.

Orissa to claim 50 pc in Machkund project
Saturday February 24 2007 10:35 IST
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government will claim 50 percent share in the Machkund hydro electricity project from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

A joint venture between erstwhile Madras presidency and Orissa, the Machkund hydro power station has an installed capacity of 114 mega watt. Commissioned in 1960, the project was set up with an investment of Rs 24 crore. The capital cost of the project was shared between the two states in 70:30 ratio.

As per the agreement between Madras and Orissa Governments in 1945, both the states had the right to use 50 percent of the ultimate power generated. Since Orissa was not in a position to utilise its full share, it transferred its right to use 20 percent of the power generated to Madras Government for a period of 99 years.

However, on the strength of the supplementary agreement with Andhra in 1978, the neighbouring state consented to sell 20 percent of its share at the rate of 8 paise per unit subjected to a maximum draw of 50 percent of the total generation in a year.

On an average, Orissa is getting 350 million unit of power from the project every year. If the neighbouring State agrees to sell another 20 percent of its share, Orissa will claim more power from the project. Besides, the State will claim management control over the project, Energy Minister S N Patro told mediapersons. Several issues, including raising its stake to 50 percent in the project, were taken up at a meeting of the two states thrice without any result.

The Energy Minister took up the issue with his Andhra counterpart and a meeting of the joint board of control is scheduled to be held at Hyderabad on February 28. Energy Ministers of the two states will attend the meeting. The joint board of control with 30 percent representation of Orissa has never met since 1954. The last meeting was held on August 9, 1954. The meeting will also discuss the billing disputes between APTransco and Gridco on the additional power Orissa had drawn during 1990 and 2000. As per 1945 agreement, AP and Orissa had the right to use half of the ultimate power generated.

RIL to place gas pricing proposals with Centre
BS Reporter / Hyderabad February 24, 2007

Reliance Industries (RIL), whose due diligence of natural gas operations is nearing completion, would soon approach Government of India with its own pricing proposals for natural gas. This was disclosed by R K Dhadda, managing director of Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the company is readying to supply natural gas to who ever is willing to take gas upfront in June, 2008 when the production starts in KG D6 block. However, firm supply agreements with customers will be signed only after the gas price is determined by the Centre. "We don’t want to enter any kind of intermediate MoUs with our prospective customers sans pricing," he said at a seminar on investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals investment region(AP PCPIR) on Saturday.

The Andhra Pradesh state is going to be a major beneficiary in RIL's scheme of the development of gas network, as a total of 1,950 kms of pipe line of the four trunk routes, including 40% of the 1,400 km- East West Trunk Line which is under progress, would pass through the the state, according to him. He disclosed that the RIL has received clearance to lay the Kakinada-Haldia pipeline a couple of days back.

Besides Kakinada-Chennai, Chennai-Mangalore pipe lines the company is also proposing to lay an interconnectivity pipe line between Hyderabad and Hasan for which it is tying up with GAIL. "We are committed to supply gas to the entire Andhra Pradesh," he said.
YSR made several representations to GoI for setting up norms to fix price for Gas produced at KG basin.
This just a damage control statement from Reliance.
Congratulations YSR!

^^ ^^
Why congrajulations to YSR?

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/30/stories/2005063015900100.htm
State seeks royalty on KG basin gas find
YSR has been campaigning with the GoI on this issue and he finally SUCCEEDED!

State seeks royalty on KG basin gas find
HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government is all set to demand its pound of flesh in the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation's (GSPC) natural gas finds in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the State's coast. Asserting that the Government will not remain a mute spectator to the exploitation of natural gas reserves by a `sister State,' the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has said he has written to the Centre seeking a share in its royalty.

"We know that we do not get any royalty when it is an offshore find. We have written to the 12th Finance Commission some five months ago to consider our plea for a share in the Centre's royalty. Everyone has his needs. The Gujarat Government too has its needs. After all the GSPC has to route its supply through our land," Dr. Reddy told reporters here on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister said he had asked officials to immediately begin work on a proposal to constitute a gas grid. The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) proposed to him in New Delhi on Tuesday the starting of a gas grid in the State as a joint venture. Instead of inviting private parties, the Government itself would take it up "in the larger interest of people."

Explosive situation : He said the Government was sitting on a time bomb in the form of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with four private parties -- Vemagiri, GVK, Spectrum and Konaseema -- as it would be forced to pay at least Rs. 1, 200 crores from next year by way of a counter-guarantee to finance their fuel cost if gas supply was not ensured.

He had, therefore, appealed to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to either ensure ONGC supply to the private power producers or explore the possibility of establishing a barge-mounted LNG terminal in the State. Moreover, in view of the fact that new gas finds were attracting several private players, he had urged the Prime Minister to establish a regulatory authority to fix gas prices.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022514860400.htm
Reliance gas for 13 cities in 2008
Special Correspondent

· The piped gas will provide a `complete energy solution'
· Processing unit near Kakinada is at advanced stage

HYDERABAD: Reliance Industries Limited will commence its commercial production of gas from Krishna-Godavari Basin from June 2008. It will supply the gas through a reticulated network to 13 cities/towns in Andhra Pradesh in the first phase.

The company plans to connect 17 lakh households in the State through its pipeline in 33 cities/towns by the end of second phase. The Government of India has to determine the price of commercial gas supply, enabling RIL to enter into agreements with bulk suppliers.

Distribution losses : Disclosing this at a conference on natural gas and petrochemical infrastructure development opportunities here on Saturday, managing director of Reliance Gas Transportation company R. K. Dhadda said that the piped gas would provide a `complete energy solution'. The transmission and distribution losses in this mode would be a negligible three per cent, as opposed to huge T&D losses in electricity.

Of the 1,400-km East-West pipeline connecting Kakinada and Bharuch in Gujarat, 563 km would pass through Andhra Pradesh. While 410 km of pipeline in the Kakinada-Haldia stretch passed through the State. Mr. Dhadda said that 540 km of pipeline in the Kakinada-Chennai route, 112 km of pipeline forming part of Chennai-Mangalore stretch and 325 km of line that formed part of Hyderabad-Hassan would pass across the State.

Clearances soon :Clearances for a few of these routes were expected soon. Thus, he said, Rs 7,000 crores out of the Rs 22,000-crore infrastructure investment would be made only within Andhra Pradesh.
Responding to a query, Mr. Dhadda said: "Our plans are on track to have the gas delivered to the last mile," he said. To another question, he said compressed natural gas was certainly a priority item for the company. The company was getting ready to enhance gas production capacity from 40 to 80 million standard cubic metres per day in the K-G Basin. A processing unit at Gadimoga about 30 km south of Kakinada was at advanced stage.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022523560500.htm

Rs. 22,000-cr. ONGC refinery in Kakinada
Special Correspondent

· HPCL to invest Rs. 30,000 cr. for expansion of Vizag refinery
· To invest in aromatics and naphtha gas-cracker plants

HYDERABAD: The Petroleum, Chemicals, Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in Visakhapatnam-Kakinada-Rajahmundry corridor is bracing up for a capital investment of Rs. 52,000 crores from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL).
Inaugurating a conference on natural gas and petrochemical infrastructure development in the State organised by IfralineEnergy here on Saturday, APIIC Managing Director B.P. Acharya disclosed that the ONGC had confirmed that it would establish a Rs. 22,000-crore refinery in Kakinada. It also informed the Government of its plans to double its proposed plant capacity to 15 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum).

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) also proposed an investment of Rs. 30,000 crores with a strategic partner for the phase-II expansion of its 7.5 MMTPA refinery in Visakhapatnam.

The Andhra Pradesh Special Economic Zone's PCPIR was spread over 176 sq km, while the zone-II (Nakkapalli area in Visakhapatnam district) was being developed in a 46 sq km of area.

The zone-III (Kakinada-Rajahmundry sector) was coming up in 71 sq km (to be anchored by ONGC).
The GAIL's network with big industries like Reliance would enhance the PCPIR economic activity.
cool. official confirmation.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022505340500.htm

Four-lane road for Krishnapatnam area

4,000-MW power project coming up

· New Railway line to connect thermal project with the port
· It requires an investment of Rs 35,000 crores

HYDERABAD: A four-lane road and a new railway line are in offing for the Krishnapatnam area in Nellore district as fringe benefits out of the upcoming coal-based 4,000-MW ultra mega power project taken up by the Central Government at Krishnapatnam.

Besides, the handling capacity of the Krishnapatnam port, which will have to import coal for the thermal station, will be increased. Both the four-lane road and the railway track will be laid connecting the thermal project. Energy Minister Mohd Ali Shabbir told reporters here on Saturday that the massive project, which would require an investment of Rs 35,000 crores, would be implemented entirely by private parties through international bidding. Tenders would be issued on April 10. The project would be ready by 2012, ensuring 50 per cent share of the capacity (2,000 MW) to the State.

Similarly, the 1,600-MW mega project contemplated by the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation at the same place with Singareni coal and imports, would be inaugurated shortly. The Minister said all issues relating to land acquisitions for both the projects had been resolved.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022523560500.htm


cool. official confirmation.

The news is encouraging.Lets see how fast they make financial closures.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022505340500.htm

Keep it up. Very good show

Deccan Chronicle
State to review two port deals

Hyderabad, Feb. 25: The State government is planning to review the previous Telugu Desam government’s privatisation agreements for Kakinada and Gangavaram ports. Sources said the Congress government felt that the agreements virtually gave the private entrepreneurs a monopoly and this was against public interest.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy was reportedly aghast after perusing the conditions agreed to by his predecessors and has asked the law department to find out whether the government could rework the agreements. "The deal is such that no new port can be established within 15 km north of Kakinada port," said a senior official. "It is on for 20 years and extendable by another 10 years."

Similarly, the agreement on Gangavaram port requires that no new port be established in a 30 km radius. Similar conditions have been imposed by private entrepreneurs with regard to Nizampatnam port too. "These concessions surprised the Chief Minister," said the official. "We want to rework the agreements so that the government would have the right to establish other ports."

Kakinada deep water port was handed over to International Sea Ports of Singapore on operate, manage, share and transfer principle for 20 years. The company began operations from April 1999. Gangavaram port, located 15 km south of Visakhapatnam, was handed over to a consortium led by D.V.S. Raju and Dubai Port international and the agreement was signed on August 2003. The port serves the import-export needs of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Parwada Industrial Park.

As opposition leader, Mr Rajasekhar Reddy had strongly opposed the concessions offered to the consortium which bagged the contract for Kakinada port. He had pointed out that it had literally turned a government enterprise into a private monopoly. After becoming Chief Minister, he has already scrapped the TD regime’s IMG Bharatha deal and the Kuppam project terming them to be against public interest.

Satellite township to come up in Medak dist (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/28/stories/2007022804172100.htm)


A consortium of Tishman Speyer India Master fund, ICICI Venture Fund Management Company and Nagarjuna Construction Company would establish an integrated self contained satellite township at Tellapur village in Medak District.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,356 crore. The township is expected to come up in 400 acres with a proposed population of 42,000, according to an official press release here on Tuesday.

The representatives of the three companies led by Ms Catherine (Tishman Speyer), Mr Kishore (ICICI Venture Fund Management) and Mr Raju (Nagarjuna Constructions), along with Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Managing Director, Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Mr Piyush Kumar, Project Director, ORR met the Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and discussed the forthcoming project.

The township will be completed in phases over a period of five years.

Tishman Speyer has built, developed or acquired more than 145 investments totalling 80 million sq.ft. with a total value of $27 billion across the US, Europe and Latin America with additional developmental and investment initiatives in India and China under way.

Satellite township to come up in Medak dist (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/28/stories/2007022804172100.htm)


A consortium of Tishman Speyer India Master fund, ICICI Venture Fund Management Company and Nagarjuna Construction Company would establish an integrated self contained satellite township at Tellapur village in Medak District.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,356 crore. The township is expected to come up in 400 acres with a proposed population of 42,000, according to an official press release here on Tuesday.

The representatives of the three companies led by Ms Catherine (Tishman Speyer), Mr Kishore (ICICI Venture Fund Management) and Mr Raju (Nagarjuna Constructions), along with Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Managing Director, Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Mr Piyush Kumar, Project Director, ORR met the Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and discussed the forthcoming project.

The township will be completed in phases over a period of five years.

Tishman Speyer has built, developed or acquired more than 145 investments totalling 80 million sq.ft. with a total value of $27 billion across the US, Europe and Latin America with additional developmental and investment initiatives in India and China under way.
^^ WoW, that should benefit Medak district a lot.:)
BTW, is it located somewhere near the proposed IIT?

Financial closure for Kakinada SEZ in Oct
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Hyderabad February 26, 2007

Financial closure for the proposed Kakinada multiproduct special economic zone (SEZ) would be completed in October 2007, MS Murty, chief operating officer of Kakinada SEZ Private Limited, said here on Saturday.

Kakinada SEZ Private Limited, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated by Kakinada Seaports Private Limited (KSPL), has already acquired 6,000 acres for the proposed 10,000-acre SEZ project.

KSPL holds a majority stake in the project along with its joint venture partners ONGC and IL&FS.
About $1 billion is expected to be invested in basic infrastructure of the SEZ project, which is likely to attract close to Rs 60,000 crore investments from downstream petrochemical industries, metallurgical, agro and aqua-based industries besides manufacturing, according to Murty. He said the master plan for the SEZ project would be ready by next month.

ONGC is setting up a 15-mmtpa (million metric tonne per annum) refinery at Kakinada, which is also being proposed under the JV with the above partners along with its subsidiary, Mangalore Refineries.

The Andhra Pradesh government would be acquiring another 2,500 acres land for the development of social infrastructure to meet the needs of Kakinada SEZ, Murty said. The company has already spent about Rs 5 lakh on acquiring each acre of land.

Source : Times of India

CWC clears four ‘T’ irrigation projects

Hyderabad: Decks have been cleared for four Telangana irrigation projects to get huge financial assistance from Central government’s Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

The Technical Advisory Committee of the Central Water Commission at its meeting in New Delhi on Friday accorded the much-awaited clearance for Devadula, Gutpa, Alisagar and Murasumalli projects, making them eligible for the AIBP grant. However, the state is yet to get clearance for the Polavaram project from the TAC despite hectic lobbying.

The committee, headed by Gowri Chatterjee, secretary in the Union water resources ministry, expressed satisfaction over the data and explanation provided by the state team and recommended the projects to the Planning Commission for investment clearance, another crucial stage en route AIBP. As the state should put forth these projects for AIBP grant before March, the state government intensified the last-minute efforts to get Devadula and Polavaram projects in the list of projects before the TAC which was scheduled to take a decision on Gutpa, Alisagar and Musarmalli only. The Congress government went to the extent of seeking the intervention of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi a couple of days ago as these projects have a lot of political significance in Telangana. Party MPs from state, along with major irrigation minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, had met Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

“This is an achievement of sorts for the government of AP. Now we are sure to get Rs 350 crore grant from the AIBP for the four projects. Of this, Rs 270 crore will go to Devadula alone,” Satish Chandra, secretary, irrigation, told TOI over phone from Delhi. He said the investment clearance from the Planning Commission was automatic and the same would be obtained in a matter of days. Regarding Polavaram, the irrigation secretary said the state had complied with everything that was asked for by the CWC and there was no reason for the delay.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030419800300.htm
No takers for road contract works in Guntur

GUNTUR: Road repairs/laying of new roads are not taking place at the desired pace, though the Guntur circle of Roads and Buildings Department is plush with sanction of works and funds. There is none to bid for these works despite floating several tenders in the past eight months.

Road improvement works on a length of 648 km out of the 3,375 km road network in Guntur district have been sanctioned and tenders floated by the department, but in 40 per cent of the cases, contractors are not coming forward to take up works for various reasons.

The gravity of the problem can be understood from the fact that out of 27 works sanctioned (Rs.6 crores) to carry out cyclone Ogni-related `flood damage repairs', there is no response for six tenders, while 10 were just grounded and only 11 have been completed. Tenders have been called five times for seven NABARD works, but none showed interest.

Under State Repair non-Plan works, 59 works have been sanctioned, but only 19 could be completed with no response for 12 works from contractors.

Similar is the fate of works under the 12th Finance Commission sanctioned funds with no response for six works. Flood Bank restoration work at Vallabhapuram (Rs. 6.5 crores) is yet to be grounded as there is no response to tender call.

Three major factors that keep contractors away are non-payment of 5 per cent additionally on the estimated value of works as the estimated value includes overheads and 10 per cent profit component for contractor.

For INDIRAMMA works, District Collector G. Jayalakshmi called a meeting. of all crusher owners in the district and made them agree to sell granite chips at 30 per cent lower rates. In the open market, however, prices have gone three fold in the past six months in phases.

Andhra Bhoomi reports:
Efforts are on to obtain SEZ status for Kakinada IT Park
Preparation are in progress to aquire 60 acres of land for the IT SEZ
Infotec has already started operations in IT park.
Wipro and Satyam to start oprations soon.
http://i5.tinypic.com/2h68qys.jpg
http://i4.tinypic.com/4dy3cit.jpg

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030405910300.htm
Kakinada will be linked to main line: Pallamraju

Kakinada: Union Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallamraju has said that linking Kakinada to the railway main line will be a reality, and Rs. 5 crores has been sanctioned in the budget pending finalisation of necessary clearance from the Planning Commission. Allaying apprehensions among people on the fate of the long-awaited project, Mr. Pallamraju said that the Planning Commission had, in principle, agreed to the project. He brushed aside criticism levelled against ruling party MPs by the Opposition that they had failed to safeguard the interests of the State

He said expeditious clearance is possible when the State comes forward to meet 50 per cent of the project cost.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/05/stories/2007030506400400.htm
Rs. 5,000-crore loans for SHGs at 3 per cent interest

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has said that loans to the tune of Rs. 5,000 crores will be extended to the self-help groups (SHGS) in 2007-08.

Reviewing programmes for the welfare of women in the State on Sunday, Dr. Reddy said last year loans worth Rs. 3,500 crores had been extended to SHGs through bank linkages. He wanted officials to effectively implement the programmes.

Houses too : According to a press note issued by the Chief Minister's Office, Dr. Reddy said that under the Indira Kranti Patham itself 6.5 lakh SHG groups were extended loans while houses for weaker sections were being registered in their names. The Government had earmarked Rs. 1001 crores for programmes under the Women and Child Welfare Department in the latest budget...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/06/stories/2007030608970300.htm
Road-cum-rail bridge in need of repairs again

Rajahmundry: Asia's biggest road-cum-rail bridge is under threat. Though officials of the Roads and Buildings Department maintain that there is no major threat to the structure, engineering experts do not rule out the possibility of a threat even to the structure in near future.

The main reason for threat is the lack of coordination between Railways and State Roads and Buildings department in maintaining the bridge, which has led to cracking of railing wall, widening gap between crocodile joints, large size pits on the 4-km road between Rajahmundry and Kovvuru, connecting East and West Godavari districts.

`Vibrations' : According to P. Rajeswara Reddy, Superintending Engineer (S.E.) of R and B of East Godavari, "Vibrations are alarming. The bridge is designed vertically with deflection. There is every possibility of moving of concrete cement joints. Maintenance has to be done at least once in two years, but after 1995 it was done only in 2005". The R and B Department has asked the Railways to fix girders beneath the concrete, for which the later is against as it was not in the design.

Large size pits, cracks, cuttings on CC road layers and cracks in railing are some of the other problems.

...According to statistics prepared by R and B Department, every day 26,000 vehicles ply on the bridge and among them 24,368 vehicles cross the speed limit of 40 km on the bridge and 1836 vehicles move slowly because they are more are less heavy vehicles.

'Ship unit sailing on course'
Ganesh S Lakshman [ 6 Mar, 2007 0303hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: Engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen and Toubro has said the feasibility report on the ship building unit at Kakinada would be ready by the end of this month.

Top officials of the company told 'TOI' that the survey and consultancy work has been completed. "At present, an international firm is conducting a feasibility report. The report is expected to be submitted by March-end after which the project would pick up steam,"the official said. The project is being overseen by S N Roy, vice-president, corporate initiatives, L&T. According to the officials, the project was slow in taking off as the entire land needed for the ship building unit needs to be reclaimed from the sea.

"We need to reclaim about 1,000 acres of land having a depth of at least 12-14 metres. Once that is done, the unit can finally come up in an area of about 800 acres,"the officials said.

Expected to be in place by 2010, the ship building unit is slated to be a multi-purpose one, catering to defence requirements as well as building LNG and oil carriers, survey ships and off-shore and multi-support vessels. Once fully operational, the unit is expected to generate orders to the tune of about Rs 25,000 crore.

The state is keen on the unit coming up in Kakinada as it would give a fillip to the economic activity on its coast. Ship building units take a long time to break even, and the only such unit in AP, the state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, has been in the red for decades.

Being a private venture, the state hopes that the unit would be completed by the stipulated time of 2010. On its part, L&T is seeking concessions including declaring the unit as a special economic zone. Towards that end, L&T chairman and MD AM Naik had met Union minister of state for defence Pallam Raju in New Delhi in November last year.

L&T zeroes in on Kakinada
PM News Bureau
Larsen & Toubro has chosen Kakinada as the location for the country's first private ship-building facility. Andhra Pradesh chief minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked L&T's chairman to come up with detailed proposals. The second round of talks will be held in Mumbai and the government is hoping to announce the setting up of the unit by the end of early May.

L&T had initially asked for about 600 acres. But if the company opted for a sector-specific SEZ, they would require only 250 acres. L&T has also asked for concessions from the state, as shipbuilding projects take longer to break even. The company claimed that it would generate orders worth about Rs 25,000 crore.

The Andhra Pradesh government is keen on this proposal, as it would bring change in the economic activity on the AP coast. Unlike the loss-making Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, the state is hoping that the L&T project would become viable in a short period as it is a private venture. [10 April 2006]

L&T seeks SEZ status for Kakinada unit
Jinka Nagaraju [ 29 Nov, 2006 0201hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
HYDERABAD: Having identified Kakinada as the location for its ship building unit, engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro Limited is now pushing for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for its unit on the grounds that it would be also catering to the defence requirements of the country.

In this connection, L&T chairman and MD, AM Naik, met Union minister of state for defence, Pallam Raju, in New Delhi on Monday, highly placed sources told TOI. Apart from being the defence minister, Raju also represents the Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency.

The shipping giant's arguments for its Kakinada unit getting SEZ status is that the public sector Hindustan Shipyard Limited being in the red, the L&T unit would play a key role in defence production. This being so, a SEZ status would take away bureaucratic and other hurdles and ensure uninterrupted production, Naik told the minister.

Kakinada has been identified for the development of a ship building unit in the east coast under the National Maritime Development Programme which proposed to develop two international standard shipyards in the east and west coasts...

In addition to the SEZ status, issues ranging from acquisition of land, investment details, etc, were discussed at the meeting, he added. "As the company is planning a fabrication facility, it needs over 600 acres of land for the project. It has submitted investment details to the Centre and state governments and the project will be wrapped up by 2010," said the source.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/630163.cms

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022523560500.htm
Rs. 22,000-cr. ONGC refinery in Kakinada
Reliance plans $400 mn jetty in Kakinada
Rakteem Katakey in New Delhi | February 23, 2007 01:31 IST
Reliance Industries, which has discovered gas reserves of nearly 14 trillion cubic feet in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, is building a gas-receiving jetty in Kakinada.
Reliance Ind lines up Rs 7 bn for biodiesel plant
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (22 February 2007)
Reliance Industries is planning to set up the country`s first biodiesel refinery in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of around Rs 7 billion, reports Hindustan Times...
RIL has ambitious plans for the biofuels business and is cultivating jatropha, a plant that can yield high quality biodiesel, in a 200-acre plot at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. ...
Financial closure for Kakinada SEZ in Oct
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Hyderabad February 26, 2007
Financial closure for the proposed Kakinada multiproduct special economic zone (SEZ) would be completed in October 2007, MS Murty, chief operating officer of Kakinada SEZ Private Limited, said...
Kakinada SEZ Private Limited, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated by Kakinada Seaports Private Limited (KSPL), has already acquired 6,000 acres for the proposed 10,000-acre SEZ project.
'Ship unit sailing on course'
Ganesh S Lakshman [ 6 Mar, 2007 0303hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
HYDERABAD: Engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen and Toubro has said the feasibility report on the ship building unit at Kakinada would be ready by the end of this month.
Andhra Bhoomi reports: Efforts are on to obtain SEZ status for Kakinada IT Park
Preparation are in progress to aquire 60 acres of land for the IT SEZ
Infotec has already started operations in IT park.
Wipro and Satyam to start oprations soon.

Tirupati set to emerge as developed city
Monday March 5 2007 13:47 IST Newindpress.com

TIRUPATI: Temple town of Tirupati, which had been upgraded to Municipal Corporation from Municipality recently, is all set to emerge as one of the developed cities in the State in coming five years.

If everything proceeds as planned by the policy makers, the pilgrim town with a population around three lakh and another 50,000 floating population on average per day, which is in the process of becoming one of the eco cities in the country, will be most sought after place for investment in every aspect.

...145 acres of land has been identified for the township, located between Tirupati and Renigunta. The target being to attract NRIs and others from elite classes to invest in the development of the township, which as per plans will have a state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities. Being near to Renigunta Airport, which is developing into a busy airport, it is expected to attract the attention of real estate investors.

It can only be realised, when the proposed IT City in Tirupati becomes a reality. When big IT companies set up the shops here, naturally there will be demand for housing and considerable money will be invested for the purpose, Mohan Reddy explained.

With steady increase in pilgrim inflow to the temple town over the years, hospitality industry is also witnessing a steady growth. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the custodian of Tirumala is all set to construct a modern pilgrim amenity complex at Tirupati Railway station, which is also undergoing modernisation. It will change the face of the area.

Deccan Chronicle
Central team inspects Buckingham

Ongole, March 6: A Central team comprising National Waterways Authority of India chairman Madhur, vice-chairman Suseel Kumar along with chief engineer of irrigation projects M.A. Rahman inspected the Buckingham canal in Ulavapadu mandal of Prakasam district on Tuesday.

The visiting officials will submit a report to the Union government. It may be recalled that the Central government has decided to revive the Kakinada-Chennai waterway for shipment purposes. The National Transport Committee recommended the revival of the historical canal which was used during British rule.

The canal has not been functioning for over six decades and is silted up. It has developed breaches, its lock gates are in a dilapidated condition and flood banks eroded and scoured badly.Speaking to reporters here, Mr Rahman said that the government had decided to revive the 971 km canal, which would be helpful for shipment of salt and paddy in the coastal districts.

At least 30 metres width is required for transportation of goods by the canal. So far, the Buckingham canal, which passes through Prakasam and Nellore districts is 11 metres wide. Officials underlined the need to widen the canal by another 15 metres in the first stage. A total of six canals in the State will be developed under the National Waterways Development Project funded by the Union government.

These include the Kakinada canal (Kakinada-Rajahmundry) 50 km, Eluru canal (Rajamundry-Vijayawada) 139 km, Kommamur canal (Vijayawada-Pedaganjam (Chinnaganjam mandal of Prakasam district) 113 km, river Godavari (Bhadrachalam-Rajamundry) 171 km, river Krishna (Wazirabad-Vijayawada) 151 km...

Deccan Chronicle

Godavari works in April
Rajahmundry, March 6: Strengthening of flood banks of the Godavari river proposed to be taken up at a cost of Rs 548.32 crores is likely to be grounded by April 15...

Packages one and two deal with a 90 km stretch of the Vasista right bank at a cost of Rs 40.71 crores and Rs 56.40 crores respectively, covering a stretch from Vijjeswaram to Narasapuram. Package three deals with Vasista left bank from Bobbaralanka to Gannavaram aqueduct at a cost of Rs 37.08 crores, package four deals with the Vasista left bank, from the Gannavaram aqueduct to Antarvedipalem at a cost of Rs 54.23 crores, package five deals with Vynatheya left and right bank over a stretch of 56 km at a cost of Rs 51.49 crores, package six deals with Gautami left bank from Dowleswaram to Kapileswarapuram at a cost of Rs 47.70 crores, package seven deals with Gautami left bank from Kapileswarapuram to Coringa at a cost of Rs 45.91 crores...

All police stations to be networked
Nuzivid, March 6: Deputy inspector general (DIG) (computers) A.B. Venkateswara Rao said that police stations across the State would be computerised fully to reduce the burden of the police personnel and improve their efficiency.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007 Cyberabad Times
AdLabs Studio and Multiplex

Anil Ambani is scripting a new story for Telugu cinema. The ADAG-backed Adlabs is investing over Rs 300 crore in buying and leasing movie theatres in Andhra Pradesh to boost Adlabs'' distribution.

At Rs 250 crore a year the Telugu film industry is India''s largest regional film industry and last year it produced more movies than even Bollywood did.
The multiplex in Hyderabad will be up and running in the next few months. Sources also say the company plans to build a film studio in Hyderabad and produce Telugu films. At Rs 250 crore a year the Telugu film industry is India''s largest regional film industry and last year it produced more movies than even Bollywood did. No wonder Anil Ambani wants a piece of the action.

The humble neighbourhood cinema hall in Andhra Pradesh will never be the same again. Adlabs has bought or leased more than 200 small theatres in AP and transformed them into Adlabs cinema halls. Adlabs has invested a crore of rupees in each renovation. Source: Money Control

Rumour has it ...

Hinduja Brothers want to build 1000mw Thermal Power Plant in Vizag.

Originally proposed in 1994, Hundujas were offered 1100 acres of land by GoAP.
Ap would get to buy 50% of power produced at market rates.
Hundujas paid Rs 11 crore, but then opted out of the projectl and stopped payment of balance Rs. 19 crore for the land. The case was presented before the Regulatoy Commission and GoAP assumed, the case was closed...

Rumours are, Hindujas want to come back again and asking for 1900 acre more land
according to sources, GoAP will have to give away the 1100 acre land as originally promised
land rates have incresed from Rs 2.2 Lakh an acre (1998) to Rs. 40 lakh an acre (2007) now
would GoAP be willing to offer extra 1900 acre land at old rates ...
would Hindujas have their way and take all the 3000 acre land ...
we can only wait and see ...

URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050202921400.htm
Hinduja group plans LCV plant, revival of Vizag power plant
Hyderabad , May 1
The Hinduja group has evinced interest in locating a light commercial vehicle (LCV) plant and reviving its 1,000-MW coal-based projects in Andhra Pradesh. The group headed by Mr Prakash Hinduja met the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the industry department officials and held discussions.

...the revival of the power plant in Visakhapatnam, which was first proposed nearly a decade ago, figured prominently in the discussion. Though details were not immediately available, the 1000-MW power plant could possibly mean an investment of Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore...
http://www.hindujagroup.com/news/press-articles/20060109.html
Hindujas to revive Vizag power project
Monday, January 09, 2006, Financial Express
The Hinduja Group is all set to revive its 1,040 mw, coal-fired, power plant project in Visakhapatnam, according to Praksh P Hinduja, who is based in Geneva and manages the group’s Amas Bank (Switzerland) Ltd.

...It may be recalled that former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao had laid the foundation for the project in August 1994.
URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050212020400.htm
Hinduja brothers call on YSR
YSR responds positively to the brothers' request seeking matching incentives
Brothers rake up 1,000-MW power plant at Visakhapatnam with YSR

http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/10/stories/2006051012190400.htm

Need to recast PPAs of Hinduja, BPL projects
Revival in present form may lead to Enron-like situation
Unit price of both projects will have to be far higher now
Mahrashtra ran into trouble with Enron when it had to actually buy power
Rachel Chatterjee, who was cited as respondent by BPL, quits panel...

Deccan Chronicle
AP got huge funds: GM Says 74% increase in Budget allocation

Nizamabad, March 7: South Central Railway (SCR) general manager (GM) D.N. Mathur stated on Wednesday that the State got the lion’s share in fund allocations in the 2007-08 Railway Budget, when compared to other parts of the country.

Mr Mathur dismissed reports that Andhra Pradesh failed to get allocations on expected lines in the budget.

...the GM said that Rs 945 crores had been allotted to the State in 2006-07, whereas in 2007-08 Rs 1,611 crores had been allotted...

"We are going to spend huge funds for the Kakinada-Samalkota doubling works and at the same time, Rs 10 crores would be spent on land acquisition for the Kakinada-Pithapuram railway line," he said. As part of modernisation, 20 railway stations in the SCR division and two model stations will be developed, Mr Mathur added.
what about MMTS phase-2? nothing.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/07/stories/2007030710800300.htm
Revival of waterway in five years

ONGOLE: National Inland Waterways Authority Chairman Mathur made a fleeting visit to Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district to study feasibility of reviving inland water transport in Buckingham canal. He cancelled his scheduled visit to Pedaganjam and rushed back to New Delhi on some urgent office work.

Major Irrigation Engineer-in-Chief Rehman, who accompanied him, later told newspersons that the first phase of reviving inland water transport from Kakinada to Chennai might be completed in the next five years for vessels with carrying capacity of 100 tons to sail in the waters.

Mr. Rehman said the Centre identified six waterways for inland navigation in Andhra Pradesh. They were Kakinada-Rajahmundry (Godavari canal), Dowlaiswaram-Vijayawada (Eluru canal), Vijayawada-Pedaganjam (Kommamuru Krishna canal) and Pedaganjam-Chennai (Buckingham canal), where navigation existed during British days and Dowlaiswaram-Bhadrachalam in the Godavari river course and Vijayawada-Miryalaguda in Krishna river course. Water and Power Corporation has begun survey of these routes for navigation of 100 ton vessels in the first phase and 300 ton vessels in the second phase, to identify land available, construction of regulators and bridges to suit navigation etc. It will submit a detailed project report in the next two months.

Bridges' replacement : As navigation required a clearance of 4.2 metres from the water surface, many old bridges had to be replaced. The canals are to be widened to a bed width of 14 metres and water depth should be 1.8 meters for the vessels to sail in the first phase...

Very important to develop waterways

They way that fellow ran back to delhi shows the importance they give to waterways. This canal has been talked about since my childhood but nothing happened so far.

As price of oil steadily goes up(peakoil?), waterways will become very cost effective. Because ships can run on low grade fuels.

ONGC may invest Rs 20,000 cr in Kakinada SEZ:Sources
2007-03-09 08:59:13 Source : Moneycontrol.com

ONGC is likely to invest Rs 22,000 crore in the Kakinada SEZ. That's a reversal of its move to walk out of the project. CNBC-TV18 reports on why ONGC changed its mind. With one good word, the 10,000 acre SEZ in Kakinada is back on track. ONGC is likely to invest Rs 22,000 crore in the project, setting up a refinery and petrochemical unit there.

Sources in the Andhra Pradesh government say it took intervention from the Prime Minister's office to bring ONGC back to the Kakinada SEZ. Now ONGC might have to double its proposed productivity to make the project economically viable. In November last year after Subir Raha quit as ONGC's CEO, the management said it did not want to be part of the Kakinada SEZ because it was economically unviable. The AP government then sought the intervention of the Prime Minister and the Petroleum Ministry.

Company officials say they are re-examining the feasibility of the project and intend to ask for concessions from the state government. The project is expected to reach financial closure in October. CNBC-TV18 Disclaimer This information is source-based.

ONGC gets nod to double capacity of proposed Kakinada refinery
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (09 March 2007)

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) recived a green signal from the Petroleum Minister, Murli Deora to double the capacity of its Kakinada refinery to 15 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to make it viable, reports Business Standard.

Minister for Petroleum Murli Deora today told Parliament that according to the directions from the prime minister, he has asked Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to go ahead with the project to double the original scale. ONGC had originally planned to set up a 7.5-mtpa export-oriented refinery in Kakinada, and also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government to acquire land for the project. However, later, ONGC stepped out from the project, as studies carried out by Engineers India indicated a refinery of that scale may not be viable.

'Capacity of 15 mtpa makes the refinery a little viable. That does not mean that we will go ahead with the project as yet The petroleum minister has asked us to reconsider the refinery`s viability' a senior ONGC official said...

Source: TOI Epaper.

Hyderabad: This one will make all those who live in Andhra Pradesh joyous. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham)— one of three apex industry bodies in the country — has predicted that the state is well positioned to attract investments to the tune of a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore in next seven years.
This rapid flow of investible resources will be due to infrastructure problems that neighbouring states are facing, which will divert investors to Andhra Pradesh. But it would also be due to the availability of skilled and trained manpower in the state. The conducive policy framework would also contribute to this investment surge, Assocham said in a report. The report — Winds of Investments Are Towards AP — was released in Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon by the organisation’s president Venugopal Dhoot. The report was submitted to Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Talking to newpersons, Dhoot said that “this is a blueprint for growth in the state and we are ready to help the government is realising this potential.” The Assocham president also pointed out that the report had made an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the state and suggested certain corrective measures the government has to put in place to further encourage potential investors to consider AP as their destination. In the meeting with the CM, the Assocham team offered assistance of the apex chamber’s southern development council to establish links between investors and state agencies to “expedite and fructify the proposed and projected investment of AP”
Biotechnology, nanotechnology, automation and robotics would be the new-age sectors that would bring in significant investments into the state. In addition, power food processing, education, tourism, garment and textiles, electronics, IT, BT and pharmaceuticals would continue to remain the investment engines, the report said. The report says the government should consider creation of 10 knowledge SEZs and as many agri processing zones for attracting investments.

Source: TOI Epaper.

Hyderabad: This one will make all those who live in Andhra Pradesh joyous. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham)— one of three apex industry bodies in the country — has predicted that the state is well positioned to attract investments to the tune of a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore in next seven years.

This rapid flow of investible resources will be due to infrastructure problems that neighbouring states are facing, which will divert investors to Andhra Pradesh...

Biotechnology, nanotechnology, automation and robotics would be the new-age sectors that would bring in significant investments into the state. In addition, power food processing, education, tourism, garment and textiles, electronics, IT, BT and pharmaceuticals would continue to remain the investment engines, the report said. The report says the government should consider creation of 10 knowledge SEZs and as many agri processing zones for attracting investments.

GoAP should distribute future projects across the state, instead of concentrating in and around Hyd.

PSL bags order for RIL-KG Basin pipeline project
2007-03-15 11:15:30 Source : Moneycontrol.com
PSL Ltd., a key enabler of infrastructure and construction projects; engaged in various types of pipe coating and pipe manufacturing has today bagged an order worth US$ 21 million for the gas field known as KG-DNN-98/3, within the K.G.Basin, Bay of Bengal, off the east coast of India.

Mr. D. N. Sehgal, Director, PSL Ltd. said, �The gas find being developed by RIL lies in Water Depths ranging from 400 meters in the Northwest to over 2000 meters in the South East, and requires very special anti-corrosion and offshore concrete weight coating. The work is to be carried out with an extremely tight schedule demanding high levels of technical competence since the first two lots of Bare Line Pipe have already been received by PSL at its coating yard in Vizag.

PSL has established state-of-the-art onshore and offshore pipe coating yards at Kakinada, in addition to the existing API-certified pipe mills and coating yards at Vizag. The sequence of operations and coating of bare line pipes at Vizag, and offshore concrete coating work both at Vizag and Kakinada, are to be carried out simultaneously, and require extremely detailed micro-planning in order to meet the stringent schedule for pipe laying work as laid down by the Turnkey Contractor, M/s. Allseas, Netherlands.

The scope of responsibilities for PSL also includes the design, engineering, supply, and installation of sacrificial anodes, fabrication and coating of induction bends, and other allied works like fabrication of spools at Kakinada.

The high-technology facilities being developed by PSL at Kakinada will go a long way in serving other upcoming projects being implemented within the KG Basin, including the Grassroots Refinery of ONGC, onshore and offshore pipeline projects being implemented by GSPL, British Gas, and others...

The K.G. Basin pipeline order at Vizag and Kakinada offers �TOTAL PIPE SOLUTIONS�, and is being carried out simultaneously along with the SPM Project at Kandla. These constitute critical offshore projects that are being co-ordinated from the eastern and western coasts, and are an acknowledgment of and testimonial towards PSL�s capabilities in both simultaneous and timely implementation of multi-locational offshore projects.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/17/stories/2007031710150300.htm
Stage set for incorporation of Nizampatnam port complex
HYDERABAD: The stage is set for the incorporation of Nizampatnam Industrial Port City Complex (NIPCCO) as a special purpose vehicle to pave way for an investment of Rs. 6,000-8,000 crores in a minor port and a 1,000 mega watt thermal power plant close by, both in Guntur district.

NIPCCO is promoted by Skoda Export Company Limited, an entity of the Czech Republic, its Indian arm, Skoda India and Government-owned Investment Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP). The project was set in motion following the visit of Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to Hyderabad last year when a memorandum of understanding was signed.

Ideal location :It is understood that the Czech entity narrowed in on Nizampatnam, about 70 km away from the district headquarters of Guntur, after bathometric studies established it as very `safe' and even `tsunami-proof', given the gradual gradient of the sea slope in the area. The port and power plant apart, proposals under active consideration are a urea plant and a chemical park in which pharma majors are said to have expressed interest.

Once the incorporation is through, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is to be prepared by Price Waterhouse Coopers, the consulting company...

After the DPR is ready, probably by June 2007, and analysed, the shareholders' and the State Support Agreements will be through. Then the Commerce Ministry would assume the role of a nodal agency...

As of now, the State's share will primarily comprise land acquisition at a cost of Rs. 50 crores. The port complex comprises about 800 acres of land apart from an existing approach channel. This apart, the land required for the power plant and other proposed units, according to preliminary estimates is upwards of 5,000 acres.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031815150500.htm
NHAI urged to develop greenery along highways

ONGOLE: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Ongole MP, has asked National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to develop greenery along the highways to compensate for the loss of trees suffered due to widening of the road into four lanes.

He flagged off three ambulances and two patrolling vehicles here on Saturday to mark the inauguration of operation and maintenance of Chennai-Kolkata NH-5 from Nellore to Chilakaluripet.

Objective :The NHAI awarded the contract to Messers SMS Infrastructure of Nagpur for a period of three years. The firm was required to clean and maintain the meridian, put up signboards, develop greenery. It would also undertake round-the-clock patrolling of the national highway to prevent accidents.

The ambulances were stationed at Kavali, Singarayakonda and Medarametla to provide first aid to accident victims and rush them to hospital. Cranes were also provided to lift any vehicle stranded on the road. Director of SMS Anil Sancheli said that the contract was awarded to enable smooth flow of traffic on the highway, help commuters and remove any bottlenecks. The operations would be taken up on the 182-km stretch from Nellore to Chilakaluripet.

Helpline :Commuters can contact the control room at Singarayakonda by calling telephone numbers 08598-236600 or 236700 for any assistance...

YSR offers housing scheme for the middle class

Statesman News service
HYDERABAD, March 17.— Andhra Pradesh chief minister Dr YS Rajashekar Reddy today said that he has sharpfocussed on the middle class with a “saturated housing scheme”. This is the first time in the country that a government is providing houses exclusively for middle class families.
Homes would be available for at least 25 per cent less than the market value. The cost of 1,000 square feet flat in Hyderabad is between Rs 30-60 lakhs depending on the location. In other towns it ranges between Rs 10-Rs 25 lakh. The government is offering flats in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati and Warangal. In other towns it would construct independent houses. Applications would be open from 25 March onwards. Based on the eligible applications the district authorities would conduct a demand survey to assess the land required to fulfil the applications.

“The rise in land rates and the real estate boom across the state has put a home beyond the reach of an average family. Actually in the twin cities it is a mirage. The middle class clearly is the worst hit in the current housing market”, Dr Reddy told The Statesman. "This is open to every middle class family that does not own a house and this would be driven by demand”. When asked to elaborate he said, “We want to provide a house or a flat to literally every eligible family. We are working on the saturation concept. We would also be acting as a facilitator for bank loans”.

This is a rare case where the government is working on addressing demand instead of its usual procedure where a certain number of houses are announced and then applicants are sought. About the financial viability and the costs involved he said, “Basically it is very simple. The government would acquire land apart from seeking fast track clearances from Courts where government lands are in litigation. This makes the land cheap. The construction would be done by grade-I contractors. We will be doing this without any profit motive. The key is how quickly we deliver these homes”.

YSR offers housing scheme for the middle class

Statesman News service

YSR is exploring new paths to facilitate corruption.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4g44nid.jpg
...
Andhra Bhoomi reports: New Shape for the Roads.
YSR decided to bring a new shape to the (state) roads with the World Bank lonas and PPP funds of Rs. 2,600 crore. Plans are to build 12 bridges and upgrade 900 km roads. 400 km length of roads will be taken up in phase-1. The following roads will be widened and made 4 lane roads:
Hyd - Kareemnagar - Ramagundam (Rajiv Rahadari) 220 km.
Warangal - Rayapatnam 115 km
Warangal - Khammam- Tallada 147 km; == Tallada - Devarapalli 142 km
Narkatpally - Addanki 213 km; ============ Pericherla - Tokapalli 133 km
Putalapattu - Naidupet 118 km; =========== Kadapa - Renigunta 138 km
These roads will be transfered from R&B to AP Road Dev Corpn...

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031808770400.htm
Expedite road works: YSR

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has directed the officials of the Roads and Buildings Department to expedite procurement process and ensure early launch of works under the Rs. 1,600-crore World Bank-fund Andhra Pradesh Road Sector Project.

The officials have been asked to take up works in a phased manner covering the upgradation and improvement of prioritised roads of 900-km length (involving Rs. 1,000 crores) in the first phase...

Review meet: Dr. Reddy...wanted the procurement of concessionaire for road bridge across Godavari near Rajahmundry by July while the works on high-level bridge across Tungabhadra near Alampur be taken up under annuity scheme.

The detailed feasibility reports for other projects should be finalised by June/July and action should be initiated for procurement of concessionaires, Dr. Reddy said. He directed the Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation Managing Director B. Rajagopala Reddy to issue orders for transfer and entrustment of core network roads to the corporation with immediate effect

http://eenadu.net/district/districtshow1.asp?dis=westgodavari#bmarkname
Gogileru : Deep Water Port

Advantages:
Wel-connected by NH 214-A
Deep sea level - Saves Rs. 300crorre in construction cost
Helps Aqua exports of over 500 MT each season
Helps Rice Exports of over 2 Lakh tonne pa

would this port materialize ...

http://www.business-standard.com/general/printpage.php?autono=277564
Govt dismisses oppn charge on minor port project location
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Hyderabad March 14, 2007
'Viability factor behind change of location'.

The Andhra Pradesh government today clarified that the selection of location for the proposed minor port in Krishna district was purely based on the developer's perception of its viability rather than any other considerations, even as the Maytas-NCC consortium, which has received the letter of intent to develop the port, has made a bank guarantee to the tune of Rs 10 crore for the same.

Responding to the objections raised by the opposition Telugu Desam members on the change of location of the proposed port to Gogileru from the historic port town of Machilipatnam, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy pointed out that the private developer had chosen the former as it would reduce the capital cost to the tune of Rs 200 crore thereby increasing the project viability. Besides sea coast being shallow at Machilipatnam, the developer would have to incur recurring expenditure of at least Rs 10 crore a year as the location is prone to siltation unlike Gogileru, which is 30 km away from the present port, according to the chief minister.

However, keeping in mind the sentiments of the opposition members the private developers was asked to relook at the proposal besides considering one more location close to Machilipatnam, he said. While citing the opinion of the RITES consultancy firm, which was appointed by the previous government to give the feasibility report on the Machilipatnam port development to substantiate the decision on change of the location, the chief minister said that obstinate insistence on Machilipatnam may force the developer to backout from the project.

The Maytas-NCC-Srei& SCC consortium had emerged as the sole bidder for the Rs 1,200-crore port project during the final round as Machilipatnam was considered by many as unviable due to lack of adequate hinterland besides other factors. Among the consortium partners, Maytas holds 40 per cent equity in the project followed by SREI with 38 per cent stake while NCC and SCC hold 11 per cent equity each.

According to the officials, the Maytas-NCC consortium has also proposed to develop an SEZ in continuation of the the port project seeking over 3,000 acres of land for this purpose during the course of bid negotiations...

Andhra should set up at least 10 knowledge SEZs: Assocham
KVVV Charya
Hyderabad In the next seven years, Andhra Pradesh can become a ‘knowledge centre’ for the world, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce (Assocham). In a blueprint, titled ‘Winds of Investments are towards Andhra’, Assocham suggests that the state has the potential to attract over Rs 1,50,000 crore investment in the next seven years. The blueprint, submitted to chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy by Assocham president Venugopal N Dhoot recently, was prepared by a group of professionals after field visits and interaction with officials.

‘‘We are confident that the state has enough potential — resources, proactive government and technically qualified manpower — which is sufficient to attract the investments,’’ Dhoot told the media.

The document points out that the state produces over 80,000 engineering graduates, 10,000 management graduates and over 3.50 lakh English-speaking workforce annually— and this is its greatest advantage.

The anticipated investment is capable of creating four lakh jobs additionally, besides increasing the state's export share from 4.39% to 10% by the year 2012. But this can be achieved only if Andhra Pradesh prepares a blueprint for establishing 10 Knowledge Special Economic Zones (K-SEZs) and 10 Agri-Processing Special Economic Zones (A-SEZs). This apart, it should act as a catalytic agent in promoting biotechnology, nano-technology, robotics, knowledge agriculture; promote institutes of professional excellence.

On its part, Assocham would take up the job of training small-time farmers by establishing about 200 agri-training institutes. Dhoot said the KL Chugh (former ITC, MD) committee to prepare the draft project paper to be submitted to the Planning Commission to get central funding. ‘‘We expect active partnership from the state government to proceed on the project,’’ he said. DS Rawat, secretary-general, Assocham, said a few corporates had evinced interest in the project. However, the modalities would be worked out after the Chugh committee submitted its report.
URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=158239

Nellore tannery cluster to be a global model
Joseph Vackayil
Chennai, Mar 18 The proposed international leather complex coming up in Nellore in Andhra Pradesh would be developed and made into a global model and a benchmark for such parks to be set up in future.

The zone is expected to come up on a 500 acres plot at Krishnapatnam near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. “Large-scale integrated tanneries will operate adhering to very strict environmental norms. Raw hides and skins would be sourced from global markets. By adopting an integrated approach through linking tanning operations to aquaculture and salt manufacturing, the existing activities in the region, a sustainable and unique model would be developed,” sources in the Leather Industry Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (LIDCAP), the nodal agency for the Centrally-funded project and the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), the primary consultants, told FE.

CLRI had prepared a detailed project report in association with L&T Ramboll for the project. By linking inter-related activities, it would be possible to reach a zero-discharge level and find a permanent and viable solution to the problem of tannery effluents.

The remaining water, after proper treatment and removal of colour and chemicals, is proposed to be let out into the Bay of Bengal. It is also planned that the treated water from tanneries could be used for aquaculture.

The fleishigs and other bio-organisms that would be removed from the hides and skins could be used for producing fishmeal. It is also suggested to recover the salt used for curing the hides and skins.

This will reduce the total dissolved solids (TDS) load on the water coming out of the tanneries. Discussions are on to float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for implementing the Rs 144 crore project fully funded by the Union government. Rs 30 crore has already been released.

The Andhra Pradesh government has allotted 380 acres of land for the project. The plan is to acquire up to 500 acres. The planners of the project expect to get three-way investments from domestic leather companies, direct investments by major international players and joint ventures.

Leather is getting better
• The Andhra Pradesh government has allotted
380 acres of land for the project
• It is Rs 144 crore project fully funded by the Union government. Rs 30 crore has already been released
• Three-way investments from domestic leather companies, direct investments by major international players and joint ventures are expected

The complex would get special economic zone (SEZ) status and benefits. “Since no developed countries do the primary processing of hides and skins, India with its advanced scientific and technological knowledge developed by institutions like CLRI can create world-class, environment-friendly tanneries that could be a model for other tannery clusters in the country and across the globe,” CLRI sources said.

The apprehension about availability of raw materials for large-scale tanneries was unwarranted. “The whole world is the supply source of high quality hides and skins,” they said.

The CLRI sources also added that the Krishnapatnam Port and Chennai Port made imports easier from any part of the world. “With the imported hides and skins, India can be the most sought-after global hub for semi-finished and finished leather,” they added.
URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=158260

Software exports from AP set to top $4 billion (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032004941100.htm)


Software exports from Andhra Pradesh, mainly Hyderabad, are set to cross $4 billion (Rs 18,000 crore) and may even touch Rs 19,000 crore in 2006-07.

In 2003-04, software exports from the State had topped the $1-billion mark.

The year would see a repeat of last fiscal's growth of over 50 per cent in overall exports from the State, with Hyderabad accounting for a majority and with some contribution from the tier II centres of Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

Ms Ratna Prabha, Secretary, Information Technology and Communication, told Business Line: "The export performance in the first three quarters was very encouraging and we are certain about crossing Rs 18,000 crore. We had indicated at Rs 19,000 crore, and we may even hit that mark."

The growth is being led by expansion projects of most major companies such as TCS, Infosys, Satyam and Wipro and some MNCs. TCS is looking at further ramping up operations in Hyderabad.

On IT SEZs, Ms Ratna Prabha said that they are being implemented and their impact on the State would be felt over 2-3 years.

On the hardware policy clearance and new proposals coming up for consideration, she said: "We continue to actively discuss with companies and are always willing to help them set up projects in the State. Recently, Videocon was here expressing interest. However, we have become selective in land allocation."

The State Government, along with Software Technology Parks of India, is actively encouraging companies to locate centres in tier II cities.

Vizag has become the second major centre. Last fiscal it contributed Rs 109 crore, while Vijayawada (Rs 33 crore) and Tirupati (Rs 5 crore) also chipped in.

Last fiscal's software exports of Rs 12,521 crore accounted for 12.5 per cent of total exports of Rs 1,00,809 crore.

The State is hoping that this would go up to 15 per cent in the near future.

Rajahmundry to get coir tech centre (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032004921100.htm)


The Coir Board is planning to set up a coir technology demonstration centre and later a coir lab here during the current financial year, according to Mr M. Kumar Raja, Secretary of the board.

After inaugurating a one-day seminar on coir industry in Andhra Pradesh here on Monday, he said the regional office of the board had been shifted from Visakhapatnam to Rajahmundry to make it more accessible to farmers. "The two Godavari districts account for the bulk of coconut production in the State and therefore, in response to the pleas of farmers, the regional office has been shifted from Vizag to Rajahmundry," he said.

He said that Rs 60 crore was allotted to the board for the development of the industry during the current financial year, of which Rs 2 crore would be spent in Andhra Pradesh.

During 2006-07, coir products worth Rs 12 crore were exported from the State to China and Russia and during the current financial year, the target was set at Rs 15 crore, he said.

The board was giving Rs 2 lakh subsidy to the small-scale units and the ceiling on the number of units to be given subsidy during a year had been lifted, in response to the pleas from the industry, he said.

More areas in twin Godavari districts come under urban limits
Monday March 19 2007 12:04 IST Newindpress
RAJAHMUNDRY: Indicative Land Usage Plans (ILUP) of 86 mandals in East and West Godavari districts were completed and sent to the Director of Town Planning Department, according to the Town Planning Regional Deputy Director A Narayana Raju...

Due to the expansion of Rajahmundry and Kakinada cities, the surrounding areas of the two cities, such as Diwanchervu, Lalachervu, Palacharla, Timmapuram, Sarpavaram and Ramanaiahpeta were covered under ILUP, he said...

Under Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns Scheme (IDSMTS) the muncipalities in East and West Godavari districts has received the grants of Rs 12 crore since 1995-1996. Under IDSMTS, Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry has received a grant of Rs 3.47 crore, Kakinada (Rs 1.32 crore), Amalapuram (Rs 2.28 crore), Tuni (Rs 1.81 crore), Mandapeta (Rs 1.05 crore), Peddapuram (Rs 58 lakh), Samalkota (Rs 1.02 crore) and Pithapuram (Rs 73 lakh) in East Godavari district.

In regard of West Godavari district, Municipal Corporation of Eluru obtained a grant of Rs 2.01 crore, Kovvur Rs 1.05 crore, Nidadavole Rs 33 lakh, Bhimavaram Rs 56 lakh, Tadepalligudem Rs 15 lakh, Tanuku Rs 9 lakh, Narsapur Rs 1.12 crore and Palacole Rs 2 crore, he said...

Deccan Chronicle
SEZ rule change not to impact State firms

New Delhi / Hyderabad, March 21: The Centre on Thursday made developers of Special Economic Zones solely responsible for rehabilitation of displaced persons, but the changes are unlikely to affect developers in Andhra Pradesh. “The developer (of special economic zones) shall make adequate provision for rehabilitation of the displaced persons as per the relief and rehabilitation policy of the State government,” a Union commerce ministry notification said.

The sudden change precedes the finalisation of the rehabilitation policy being worked out by the Union ministry of rural development. In Hyderabad, sources said that the decision would not have an immediate impact on SEZs being developed in the State. Most of the SEZs proposed in and around the State capital including Raheja, Indu and Brahmani Infotech are being developed on government lands. In some cases like Satyam, Topnotch and Surana, sick units in the existing industrial estates are being converted into SEZs.

Acquisition of a large extent of private land of 3,000 acres is under process for the Satyaveedu Reserve Infra City, the lone multi-product SEZ in the State proposed in Chittoor district. “We are almost nearing completion of land acquisition and it is a smooth affair because we have been paying farmers more than the existing market price,” said SRI City director T. Sunil Reddy. The company assured rehabilitation in terms of employment and other facilities to the original land owners. Industry department officials told this correspondent that acquisition of private land for the SEZ for apparel units at Tada in Nellore district was also completed without problems and the process of acquisition of land for the SEZ proposed in Kakinada had already begun.

The Centre’s announcement came even as leaders of the UPA and the Left parties met at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence. Further, in a tightening measure to check speculation by real estate players, the validity for “in-principle” approval has been reduced from three years to one year. However, the validity for formal approval remains three years because land possession is essential for getting the final nod from board of approval in the commerce ministry. The developer will have to show it possesses irrevocable rights over land.

The government has also made meeting environmental requirements mandatory for SEZ developers. Besides, the SEZ applicant has to furnish full details of foreign direct investment and its source. Also, the applicant will have to give the details of group’s net worth. This has been done to ensure that only companies capable of setting up such projects come forward with their proposals. However, as a relief measure, the government has allowed extension of tax benefits to the contractors working for the developers.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032219420500.htm

In-principle nod for BRTS plan
The total project cost is Rs.152.64 crores. A 15.5-km corridor to be taken up for hassle-free transport

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has managed to get in-principle approval from the central sanctioning committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for its Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) proposal...

`Pilot corridor' :In view of the central sanctioning committee's preference for funding a `pilot corridor' rather than several corridors at a time, the VMC has dropped the original plan to propose a total of six stretches each with a separate colour code.

Instead, the latest proposal put up before the central sanctioning committee focussed only on the `green corridor', which will be of a total length of 15.5 km and with a width of 30 metres to 60 metres. It will begin and end at the City Bus Terminal, while passing through railway goods shed, railway station, C.K. Reddy Road junction, the removed railway track of Satyanarayanapuram, Madhura Nagar junction, Padavala Revu, Gunadala, Ramavarappadu Ring Road junction, Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences, Benz Circle, Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, Vijaya Krishna Super Bazar and old bus stand.

It will pass over two irrigation canals, i.e. Bandar Canal and Ryve's Canal, and is expected to be of help to those intending to reach, without much of a traffic snarl, places like the airport, medical college, dental college, veterinary science college, the proposed IT Park near Gannavaram and many other prominent business establishments, commercial centres, government offices, entertainment centres and the like.The VMC has pegged the total project cost at Rs. 152.64 crores. A major chunk of this, i.e. Rs.137.64 crores, will be spent on creating the infrastructure for the 15.5-km stretch at the rate of Rs.8.8 crores per each km.

The remaining Rs.28.4 crores will be spent on creating 40 bus stops of Rs.3 lakhs each, two parking lots of Rs.2 crores each, six foot-over bridges of Rs.1.2 crores each and 40 buses of Rs.40 lakhs each.The Centre will bear 50 per cent of the total project cost (Rs.76.32 crores), while the State Government will have to foot the bill up to 20 per cent (30.52 crores). The remaining 30 per cent (Rs.45.8 crores) will have to be borne by the VMC.

Centre nod soon for SEZs in AP
Ganesh S Lakshman [ 21 Mar, 2007 0221hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: Hectic lobbying by the state has resulted in the Union commerce ministry giving 'a tacit assurance' that the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for which the land acquisition process has been completed will be notified soon. Of the 54 SEZs in the state, formal approval has been accorded to 45 of them.

"For all the ones for which there is a formal approval, the land acquisition has already taken place and there are no relief and rehabilitation issues. On our repeated pleas, the Centre has given us an assurance that SEZs where land acquisition is in place will be cleared for notification in the next meeting of the group of ministers constituted to look into the issue," a state government official told TOI.

According to sources, the state government impressed upon the Union commerce ministry that all the land acquisition in the state is consent-based, and that most of them is non-agricultural land.

"Even for the SEZs in Satyavedu and Kakinada for which the land acquisition process is on, we are paying about three-four times the market value to the land owner. Nowhere in the state has there a problem with land acquisition," sources said was the line of thought conveyed to the Centre for it to okay the projects.

The state has the largest number of SEZs approved in the country. It is very keen that notification of the SEZs for which formal approval has taken place be done at the earliest so that the promoter can start construction rightaway.

"If there is undue delay, then many of the promoters might opt out, thereby denying the cutting edge to the state that these SEZs would give," said an official.

The group of ministers headed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to meet soon and take a decision on the clearance to those SEZs where land acquisition has been completed.

YSR is exploring new paths to facilitate corruption.



completely agree. we shall see more such innovative schemes to influence public opinion and increase money flow into netas' pockets through back-door and under-the-table deals.....alas, public money is at waste here.:ohno:

AP power reforms paying off at all distribution levels
Hyderabad If power consumption in agriculture is restricted at the present levels, two distribution companies out of four in the state can report profits for fiscal 2007-08, says the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC).

As per the tariff order, the Central Power Distribution Company may report a surplus of Rs 280 crore and the Eastern Power Distribution Company a surplus of Rs 110 crore. The remaining two—Southern and Northern Power Distribution—are expected to report deficits of Rs 422 crore and Rs 626 crore, respectively, an improvement over last year. ‘‘The improved performance at each distribution level is the result of power reforms being implemented since 1999,’’ say industry sources. Though chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy insists on a ‘free power’ policy for agriculture, APERC has been showing the way on how this can be implemented, they say.

For instance, all the four distribution companies have demanded 16,000 million units for agriculture, which is not accepted by the commission. It has restricted agriculture power consumption at 13,398 mu for 2007-08, as last year. Interestingly, APERC had asked the Indian Statistical Institute to study the annual power consumption of agriculture. ‘‘Based on the report, we will revise the tariff order, if required,’’ APERC secretary, S Suryaprakasa Rao, told FE.

The tariff order has not increased charges for all categories for the period 2007-08. It has clarified that the estimated deficit of Rs 1,845 crore would be met through direct subsidy of Rs 1,047 crore and the remai-ning through cross-subsidy. The distribution system has substantially strengthened since the reform process began. While metered billing was just about Rs 5,000 crore during 1999, it grew to Rs 10,500 crore by 2006. Power consumption, too, increased marginally from 44,000 mu to 54,000 mu. This signifies that the reforms have paid and can further continue. However, Andhra is still reluctant to privatise distribution, fearing a public outcry. Besides, it is not in a mood to loosen its grip on the energy sector.

The state had gone for power reforms in 1999 with support from World Bank. Accordingly, it had unbundled the electricity board into generation, transmission and distribution companies. After strengthening generation and transmission, it had proposed to privatise distribution.

The Union energy ministry has initiated a 'carrot and stick' method to make the state push reforms. Sources said the ministry had asked AP to privatise distribution at least in urban areas, only then would it get mega project status for the proposed 1,600 mw APGenco plant at Krishnapatnam.
URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=158989

Deccan Chronicle
Rs 219 cr okayed for bridges
Rajahmundry, March 25: Minister for roads and buildings Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao said that 11 works pertaining to the construction of railway overbridges (ROB) and railway underbridges (RUB) will be taken up shortly at a cost of Rs 219 crores for 2007-08 in the State.

Speaking to newsmen here on Sunday, the minister said that the construction of the ROBs and RUBs was in various stages. Accordingly, an ROB between Vatluru and Eluru would be constructed at a cost of Rs 22 crores, another ROB between Vatluru and Eluru at Rs 22.44 crores, an ROB at Kakinada at a cost of Rs 15 crores, an ROB at Dwarapudi at Rs 19.94 crores and similar works at Guntur, Khammam, Vijayawada, Warangal and Hyderabad would also be taken up at a total cost of about Rs 219 crores.

The minister said that the construction works approved for 2006-07 were under various stages of construction. Tenders were called for some works while some others were supposed to be started very shortly. Mr Ramamohana Rao said that 22 works of ROBs and RUBs proposed for 2006-07 at a cost of Rs 316.30 crores were under various stages of construction.

Railway works were proposed to be taken up in Anantapur, Chittoor, Guntur, Kadapa, Kakinada, Khammam, Kurnool, Nalgonda, Hyderabad rural circle, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. He said that the proposed works were being taken up by the State and Central governments.
Rs 316 crores for 2006-07
Rs 219 crores for 2007-08
more revenues and less budget ?

Govt proposes fourth site for Vizag airport
Monday March 26 2007 00:00 IST Newindpress

...The need for a new airport has become necessary in view of the frequent inundation of the existing airport by the flood waters of Meghadrigedda reservoir, especially during rainy season. Further, there is no scope for developing the present airport on par with international airports as availability of the land for future expansion is scarce. Another reason that forced the State Government to have a second airport in Visakhapatnam was the reputation it was gaining as the second important hi-tech city in the state with a world class sea port catering to the exports and imports of huge quantities of cargo besides housing the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, Hindustan Ship Yard and the upcoming Gangavaram Port in private sector...

Proposed sites:
Bhogapuram mandal in Vznm dist 2,500 acres 55 km from the city
Sabbavaram 3,500 acres 30 km from the city
Achyuthapuram 4,000 acres 60 km from the city
Koruprolu 2,000 acres 80 km from Vizag city and also Kakinada...