Devanahalli Airport Helps Bring Investments to Satya Sai District
It takes an hour and a half to reach the district by road from the major aviation facility
ANANTAPUR: The backward and drought-hit Satya Sai district is emerging as a major industrial hub following its close access to Bengaluru’s Devanahalli international airport. This helps in boosting the investment prospects for the district.
Investors are coming with projects while the central government is also initiating its projects in Satya Sai district due to its close access from the airport. It takes an hour and a half to reach the district by road from the major aviation facility.
KIA has a big car manufacturing unit at Penukonda in Sri Sathya Sai district. Availability of huge swathes of land is another attraction for the district.
The district is set to be a major defence manufacturing hub with the proposed establishment of India’s advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) project, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet programme, that is planned for Puttaparthi.
Investments of nearly `1 lakh crore would significantly transform the industrial landscape of Rayalaseema and create large-scale employment opportunities for youth in the region. Officials said around 600 acres have been earmarked for the project, while land acquisition for nearly 150 acres in the project’s first phase has almost been completed.
Major defence and engineering companies including Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Forge are expected to participate in the programme along with DRDO.
The proposed manufacturing facility is aimed at producing around 140 AMCA fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The project is expected to provide thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities and accelerate industrial growth in the backward Rayalaseema region.
The first prototype of the AMCA aircraft could be ready by 2027, followed by its maiden flight in 2028. Full certification and induction into the Indian Air Force are targeted by 2034.
The district is rapidly emerging as a hub for aerospace and aviation manufacturing units.
Availability of enough water through the Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi project has become an additional advantage for the industries.
With such positives, global investors are also looking towards Satya Sai district.
Additionally, the lands not only NH 44 road but also in interior parts of Hindupur, Penukonda and Madakasira areas are now enjoying huge demand from entrepreneurs.
The defence manufacturing unit of Pune-based Kalyani Group has already been on work to establish a manufacturing unit near Madakasira town and is reportedly investing more than `1000 crore in the APIIC land allotted by the government.
The aerospace and aviation manufacturing companies are planning to set up units near the Kodikonda checkpost closer to the Karnataka borders in Chilamathur mandal. Embraer is renowned for its manufacturing of business, commercial and military aircraft, as well as aircraft components. It is planning to establish a unit in Satya Sai district.
Sources said the company is likely to set up a manufacturing unit for small and medium-sized passenger aircraft in India soon.
Union minister Rajnath Singh and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu would lay the foundation stone for the project at Puttaparthi on May 15.