Cognizant Secures Centre’s Nod For New SEZ in Visakhapatnam
Cognizant received its letter of approval on June 11, 2026, paving the way for the development, operation, and maintenance of the zone: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Central government has announced the establishment of a new Special Economic Zone in Visakhapatnam, developed by Cognizant Technology Solutions India.
This SEZ, dedicated to Information Technology and IT-enabled services, will be situated at IT-Madhurawada-2 in Madhurawada Village, Visakhapatnam Rural Mandal, covering a total area of 8.9799 hectares across six survey plots.
The notification was issued on June 25 by the commerce and industry ministry, confirming that all statutory requirements under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, have been met.
Cognizant received its letter of approval on June 11, 2026, paving the way for the development, operation, and maintenance of the zone.
Additionally, the government has formed an approval committee for the SEZ, consisting of senior officials, including the development commissioner as chairperson, along with representatives from the ministry of commerce, the directorate general of foreign trade, customs, IT, and the finance ministry.
The AP government would nominate two officers to serve as committee members, while a representative from the developer would participate as a special invitee.
In a significant development, the SEZ has been designated as an Inland Container Depot under the Customs Act, 1962, effective from June 25, 2026. This designation is expected to simplify customs procedures and facilitate smoother export-import operations for IT services and related activities.
The notified land parcels include survey numbers 394/1, 394/2P, 395/1P, 395/2P, 396/P, and 397/P, with the largest area, 5.1314 hectares, located at 394/2P. The establishment of this SEZ is expected to enhance Visakhapatnam’s position as an emerging hub for IT services, creating job opportunities and strengthening infrastructure for global technology operations.