Kadapa

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday launched the construction work of JSW Rayalaseema Integrated Steel Plant at Sunnapurallapalli and Peddadanluru villages in this district.

The integrated steel plant will be developed by JSW Andhra Pradesh Steel Limited in two phases in 1,100 acres with a total investment of Rs 16,350 crore, said an official press release.

Phase-I will involve an investment of Rs 4,500 crore, while Phase-II will bring an additional investment of Rs 11,850 crore, taking the plant's capacity to two million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

Commercial production is targeted to commence by March 2028.

Designed as a modern Green Steel facility, the plant will adopt scrap-based Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology powered by renewable energy, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

"The project was originally approved in 2019 and witnessed foundation ceremonies in 2019 and again in 2023," said the press release.

Following the formation of the TDP-led coalition government in 2024, the project was "revived" through sustained engagement with JSW, it said.

The Government has advanced critical external infrastructure required for the project, said the press release. A dedicated water supply infrastructure was being taken up for the project; connectivity to National Highway (NH-67) is under execution while a 12-kilometre railway link connecting the plant to Muddanuru Railway Station is being pursued through RITES under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, the release added.

The project is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, promote ancillary industries across Rayalaseema and strengthen Andhra Pradesh's emergence as one of India's leading steel-producing states, the release said.

Addressing a public meeting following the launch of the steel plant's construction work, Naidu said the Rayalaseema region is now home to horticulture, rare minerals and green energy, including the manufacturing plants of Royal Enfield, Kia cars and others.

Naidu said Rayalaseema will see the arrival of space, aerospace, defence, drone, electronics, automobile, renewable energy and food processing industries.

Lashing out at the previous YSRCP government, Naidu alleged that it did not lay even a single brick in the five years it ruled but noted that the TDP-led coalition has resolved several issues in the past two years, leading up to the beginning of the steel plant's construction.

Earlier, he said some "selfish people had worked for their vested interests" and noted that 14,000 acres were allotted to Brahmani Steels in 2007 to create false hopes.

Hinting at YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu alleged that the person who had worked for five years as the CM did not do anything worthwhile for Kadapa district or Rayalaseema.

He alleged that the previous rulers did not newly irrigate even an acre of land in Rayalaseema.

Further, he accused YSRCP of indulging in "destructive politics" and called it a party lacking credibility.

Alluding to Jagan, Naidu said the former promoted MAVIGUN (Machilipatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur region) as the capital yesterday and today he is backing Vijayawada.

"Mentally unsound people are doing politics," said Naidu, alleging that the previous government had gambled under the garb of three capitals.

Claiming that YSRCP is indulging in caste politics over the disappearance (Gade Sai Krishna's custodial murder) case in Vijayawada, Naidu emphasised that police discharge their duties "responsibly".

Further, the resources belonging to Rayalaseema must be utilised in this place itself, and the local raw material should be used right here to manufacture iron, he said.

Likewise, Naidu said measures would be initiated to offer jobs to locals in the plants being established here. He promised to create jobs within the state to stop youth from relocating.

Referring to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), Naidu said when the industry was in a crisis, financial aid of Rs 11,440 crore was received from the Centre.

According to the CM, the arrival of JSW Steel Plant will have an impact on the socio-economic conditions of this region.

Asserting that JSW Steel Plant will begin production in two years, Naidu promised to return in two years to inaugurate it.

Further, the CM noted that JSW has come forward to invest in the space and drone cities coming up in Tirupati district.

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Powered by horticulture, the CM said Lingala mandal in Rayalaseema has emerged as the place with the highest per capita in the state.

Naidu said the foundation for Global Horticulture Hub in Madanapalli will be laid by August 15 and vowed to develop Gandikota to rival the Grand Canyon in the US.