Notwithstanding to the opposition for ‘special economic zone’ (SEZs) from farmers, the Andhra Pradesh government claims that about Rs 32, 525 crore investment is committed in about 46 SEZs out of 70, which obtained approvals from the Central government. The state depends more on the SEZs for the overall industrial growth.
Sources said that all these 46 SEZs are expected to cover 6,894 hectares of land. “About 24 SEZs have already obtained in-principle permissions,” a senior official said.
Upon the completion of the projects, the SEZs would generate about 24 lakh jobs in the state. Besides, there are two multi-product SEZs being established near Visakhapatnam and Kakinada with 5,500 acres and 8,000 acres respectively. Further, IFFCO is setting up a Kisan SEZ on 2,700 acres.
Further, giving major boost to the industrialization in the coastal Andhra, a huge petroleum-chemicals-petro products complex is emerging spreading over 1,48,719 acres between Visakhapatnam-Kakinada-Rajahmundry corridor. The government has already drawn up project plans, which will be mostly on SEZ format. According to the plans, the corridor will have five petro-chemical SEZs covering 32, 000 acres besides, five already notified SEZs, five existing manufacturing units, six industrial parks already been in development, while five more industrial parks are at the proposal stages, sources said.