VIJAYAWADA: Information Technology, Electronics and Communication (IT, E&C) department is geared up to hold the groundbreaking ceremony of Reliance Jio, one of the biggest entrants in the field of electronic manufacturing in the State. Even as the department is ready to go ahead with the ceremony in November last week, the date is yet to be finalised.
“We had tentatively planned the ceremony in November last week. Though we are ready, it all depends on Reliance Industries Ltd (the parent of Reliance Jio) chairperson Mukesh Ambani’s schedule. His daughter’s wedding is in December second week. We will finalise the groundbreaking ceremony soon,” the official said, adding if this does not pan out, the foundation will be laid in December third week.
For the record, Reliance Industries Ltd had entered into an agreement with the State government in February to invest around Rs 15,000 crore to set up an electronic manufacturing facility near Tirupati to manufacture Jio phones, TVs, set-top boxes. A senior official of the department said that the manufacturing plant will be developed in two phases — first in around 125 acres and second in about 50 acres.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and IT, E&C Minister Nara Lokesh are likely to participate in the event. Once the foundation is laid, the facility will be ready in nine months. “The construction of sheds and assembling lines will be done in six to nine months. The facility will first manufacture Jio phones and then TVs and set-top boxes in that order,” Principal Secretary (IT, E&C), K Vijayanand told TNIE. Meanwhile, the department is working on creating Electronics and IT ecosystems in the State. About 5,000 acres have been identified in Chittoor district to develop in this regard.
Electronic manufacturing facility
Reliance Industries Ltd had entered into an agreement with the State government in February to invest around Rs 15,000 crore to set up an electronic manufacturing facility near Tirupati to manufacture Jio phones, TVs, set-top boxes among others. The manufacturing plant will be developed in two phases - first in around 125 acres and second in about 50 acres.