CM Naidu Vows To Transform Anakapalli Into Andhra’s Ranga Reddy
He described renewable energy as an integral part of nation-building and highlighted the state’s progress toward its ambitious target of generating 160 gigawatts of green energy, with more than half of that already underway.
Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has promised to transform Anakapalli district into another Ranga Reddy, a region from Telangana state once considered backward but is now thriving with industrial activities and resultant prosperity.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for two major renewable energy projects by ReNew Energy Global in Rambilli mandal on Thursday, Naidu said the state government “is shouldering the burden of electricity costs instead of passing them on to the public,” while it actively triedd to reduce consumption charges.
He described renewable energy as an integral part of nation-building and highlighted the state’s progress toward its ambitious target of generating 160 gigawatts of green energy, with more than half of that already underway.
ReNew Energy Global, led by Sumanth Sinha, son of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, is investing Rs 5,400 crore in Rambilli to establish a 6.5gw Solar Ingot-Wafer manufacturing unit and a 125mw Hybrid Captive Renewable Power Project. The projects, expected to be completed within two years, will create 2,100 jobs.
Naidu urged the company to consider setting up its corporate headquarters in Andhra Pradesh, underscoring the state’s commitment to attracting both national and international investors. “Iinvestments in Andhra Pradesh are secure,” he said and invited entrepreneurs to be partners in the state’s development.
The Chief Minister pointed to a wave of industrial activity in north Andhra, noting that the foundation stone for the ArcelorMittal Nippon India steel plant was recently laid, and that a Google AI Data Centre with an investment of 15 billion dollars would follow.
The Bhogapuram airport is scheduled to open in July. Laurus Labs is investing Rs 5,000 crore, and the Visakha Steel Plant has been safeguarded with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A dedicated Railway zone has been secured, and a four-track high-speed rail corridor for cargo transport is being developed between Visakhapatnam and Rajamahendravaram.
“There is no longer any need for our youth to migrate to other states in search of employment. Instead, we will create a situation where people from other states come here to find work,” Naidu asserted.
Electricity consumption, he stressed, is a major indicator of development and the government is encouraging the initiation of large-scale power generation projects across the state.
Investments worth Rs 5.95 lakh crore have already been finalised in the renewable energy sector, with NTPC Green Energy proposing an additional Rs 1.85 lakh crore. AP is also advancing in electric mobility, with the RTC acquiring 1,050 electric buses and planning 5,000 charging stations.
Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, 40 lakh households are targeted for rooftop solar installations, while farmers are being encouraged to adopt solar pump sets under the PM-KUSUM scheme.
The Chief Minister praised ReNew Energy Global for contributing to the renewable energy mission, noting that domestic power generation would help India withstand global energy challenges. “The generation of renewable energy is, in essence, an act of nation-building,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Modi’s push for renewable energy has strengthened India’s resilience in the face of international supply disruptions.
With Anakapalli positioned as a hub for renewable energy and industrial growth, Naidu expressed confidence that the district would replicate the success story of Ranga Reddy.
