VIJAYAWADA: Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh on Thursday assured Andhra Pradesh of “good news” in the near future, indicating that the path may be cleared for setting up an integrated steel plant in Kadapa and a cold-rolled coils steel plant in Vizag as promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014.
His assurance came at a two-hour meeting between him and AP Mines and Geology Minister R Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao and Telangana Mines Minister KT Rama Rao in New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary was also present at the meeting where Singh reiterated that the Centre was committed to fulfilling all the promises made to the Telugu states in the AP Reorganisation Act.
Briefing reporters later, Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao said, “the Centre has responded favourably to set up the promised steel factory in Kadapa district. Natural iron ore is available in Kadapa, Anantapur, and Prakasam districts. It will be used to operate the steel plant in Kadapa district.”
Stating that MECON, a government of India enterprise which inspected the feasibility of establishing a steel factory in Kadapa, had submitted its report to the Union Ministry of Steel, he explained that the meeting discussed the report at length. At the meeting, Singh responded positively to the proposal to have a cold-rolled steel plant in Visakhapatnam. The estimated investment for the same could be around Rs 6,000 crore.
L6K cr Vizag plant
The estimated investment for the cold-rolled steel plant in Vizag could be around Rs 6,000 crore. The Centre has said it is ready to set up the plant if the state provided land, power and infrastructure.