PM Modi launches Rs 18,000 crore infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 1) laid the foundation for and inaugurated projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the Rs 5700 crore Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district of the state.

Boost for chip manufacturing

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Rs 460 crore ASIP Semiconductor Project at Visakhapatnam, being developed by ASIP Technologies Pvt Ltd in partnership with APACT, Republic of Korea.

During the event, the PM said, "Development projects worth approximately Rs 18,000 crore have been launched, inaugurated, and had their foundation stones laid here. These development works symbolise the rapid pace at which Andhra Pradesh is progressing today," reported ANI.

"It is a hallmark of Chandrababu that he has embraced both aspects. On one hand, the construction of an airport, a facility that reaches for the skies, and on the other, the setting of a world record for the Dhimsa dance by our tribal sisters. I particularly appreciate this vision of Chandrababu," he added.

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“It is Andhra Pradesh's first semiconductor manufacturing facility approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, which will manufacture around 96 million semiconductor chips annually and foster a robust ancillary ecosystem to support semiconductor manufacturing,” stated a PIB release.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Transmission System for the integration of Kurnool-IV Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) - Phase-I (4.5 GW), being implemented by POWERGRID through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) at an investment of about Rs 5,550 crore.

Renewable power push

He also inaugurated the transmission system for Kurnool Wind Energy Zone and Solar Energy Zone (Andhra Pradesh) – Part A & Part B, implemented at a cost of around Rs 3,550 crore, besides the transmission scheme for Solar Energy Zone in Ananthapuram (2,500 MW) and Kurnool (1,000 MW), implemented by POWERGRID at a cost of over Rs 820 crore.

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“These transmission projects will enable the evacuation of power generated from the renewable energy zones in Kurnool and Ananthapuram and the transmission of power to beneficiaries across the country through the National Grid,” stated the release.

The projects will facilitate the integration of a large quantum of renewable energy into the grid, improve the availability of clean power for demand centres, and contribute to India's energy transition and decarbonisation efforts by reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based power generation.

Highway connectivity

Further, the PM dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for National Highway (NH) projects worth over Rs 1,880 crore.

The projects launched include the four-lane access-controlled greenfield highway from Recherla to Guruvaygudem section of NH-365 BG, the four-lane access-controlled greenfield highway from Guruvaygudem to Devarapalle section of NH-365BG, and the four-lane Tadipatri Bypass on NH-67.

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PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for a high-level bridge at Lingasamudram on the Penchalakona–Yerpedu section of NH-565.

These projects will ease congestion in Vijayawada and several other cities, improve road safety, reduce travel distance and travel time between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, and promote regional connectivity.

(With agency inputs)