Visakhapatnam poised to get cold rolled coils steel plant

The Central government has agreed upon setting up an integrated steel plant in Kadapa and cold rolled coils steels plant in Visakhapatnam. Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Bijender Singh, on Thursday, indicated that the paths might be cleared to construct these plants as promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014.

The Union Minister conducted a task force meeting with the mines ministers from the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Apart from R Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao and KT Rama Rao, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary and other officials from the respective secretaries, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and Mecon were also present at the meeting.

AP Mines and Geology Minister, R Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao, was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying, “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.”

Mecon, a government of India enterprise which inspected the feasibility of establishing a steel factory in Kadapa, had submitted its report to the Union Minister. The Central government was also informed that the prospective projects would increase the employment opportunities in the respective areas of the state.

Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Bijender Singh assured that the centre would establish the cold rolled coils steel unit in Visakhapatnam while the State government will have to provide land, power, and other facilities. The cost of the proposed project in Visakhapatnam has been estimated at Rs 6,000 crore.

R Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao also informed that the proposed unit would be coming up under the supervision of SAIL. A report would be submitted to the centre after discussing with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.