After Two Decades’ Lull, KSEZ Starts Luring Industries; Has MoUs Of ₹1.5L Crore

KAKINADA: Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), established two decades ago, has seen enough vicissitudes over time. Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed for establishing industries worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the SEZ, with the potential of generating 1.50 lakh direct and indirect jobs.

Works on the Kakinada Gateway Port (KGP) near Butchayyapeta in Perumallapuram panchayat of Thondangi mandal have been expedited. The aim is to make the port functional in the coming two years. The National Highway under Bharatmala project is being laid through the KSEZ. The Railways ministry is firming plans to acquire land for laying a new railway line from Annavaram Railway Station to the KGP.

However, the scale of KSEZ has come down following agitations by farmers whose lands had been acquired by the state government. While certain farmers took the compensation for their lands, others with land holdings spread over 2,180 acres refused to take any money and started a prolonged agitation.

The then chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy even decided to return lands to those who did not take the compensation. KSEZ officials thus handed over 1,680 acres of land to 1,428 farmers. The remaining lands are struck in legal issues between family members of land owners. In the interim, KSEZ started being called Auro Industrial City.

Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) chief executive officer Sagili Shanmohan told Deccan Chronicle that KSEZ is highly suitable for establishing various industry clusters with availability of more than 5,000 acres of land in one place. Apart from the port, the area will have a rail and road network. AP government is providing other key inputs like water and power, Shanmohan stated.

Kakinada district collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad expressed confidence that Kakinada district will turn into a major industrial hub. He said KSEZ authorities are planning to complete an Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) berth at the Kakinada Gateway Port by December 2026.

KSEZ chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Ram Reddy Ojili told DC that many companies have come forward to establish their units. They have already allotted 1,200–1,500 acres of land to the upcoming industrial units. 10 industries have already come up and KSEZ is currently supporting 15,000 employees. About seven MoUs have been signed during the current year for metallurgical coke, speciality chemicals, green fuels, and marine food processing industries.

The KSEZ CEO underlined that the recent visit of South Korea led by IT and Electronics minister Nara Lokesh in association with the CII, has been highly productive. Leading Korean companies, including HD Hyundai, could set up their industries in the KSEZ and Auro Industrial City.

Yanamala demands change in the name of KGP

KAKINADA: Telugu Desam senior leader and the former minister Yanamala Ramakrishundu has demanded that the name of Kakinada Gateway Port (KGP) be changed.

He suggested that as the port is being established in the Konaseema area with many farmers sacrificing their lands, the title “Kona” should be part of the port’s name.

Yanamala maintained that Kona Port will be a better title than Kakinada Port. Kona reflects the culture of people, who share a bond with the title, he observed.