VIJAYAWADA: Knowledge Economy Zone (KEZ) is the new buzzword with the state government. It would be taken up in collaboration with CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) to ensure rapid economic development. A knowledge-driven economy is one in which the generation and use of knowledge will come to play a major part in the creation of wealth.
The first such KEZ will come up at Amaravati. The first phase which would be executed by 2017 will be located in an area of 10 acres. By 2019, the area is proposed to be extended to 100 acres. The government proposes to take the help of World Economic Forum (WEF) and Harvard University in grounding the KEZ, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Tuesday.
The other decisions taken on the final day of the two-day collectors’ conference here included creation of a fibre grid to provide internet, telephone, cable TV through a single line and provision of 10 MBPS bandwidth to households which is the current average international bandwidth, at affordable cost. Nadiu also wanted creation of amenities on the NHs which could become money spinners and wanted the coastline of AP exploited to spur economic development. “For instance, if Srikakulam district, which has 193 km long coastline, is under developed, it is because of lack of proper planning,” he said.
As air connectivity to Amaravati is on state’s priority list, the officials apprised Naidu that acquisition of land for the Gannavaram Airport expansion would be completed by March. Similarly, tenders would be called for the international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district by April. As regards road connectivity, 1,205 km length of new national highways are proposed to be laid with an outlay of Rs 16,500 crore. Finally, the Chief Minister wanted the officials to resume lands allotted to companies if they fail to set up industries.