17.12.12

PRIDE Corridor


The central government has agreed to include Andhra Pradesh in the Chennai-Bangalore industrial corridor, said major industries minister J Geeta Reddy. She told reporters that the proposed corridor in the first phase would be extended upto Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district. The second phase of the project will also cover the Hindupur-Chittoor belt.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding the Peninsular Regional Industrial Development (Pride) corridor along the Chennai-Bangalore highway.
During the Southern Zonal council meeting in Bangalore last month, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy requested the central government to extend the project to Andhra Pradesh, saying only Chennai-Andhra-Bangalore corridor could unleash economic potential of the region and ensure world class infrastructure, economic development and employment generation. Geeta Reddy said that International Pharma Trade Centre and Research and Innovation Council of Hyderabad (Rich) were also proposed to be set up in Hyderabad. The foundation stone for both the projects are likely to be laid in March next year. She said Andhra Pradesh has also sent proposals to the central government for setting up three National Manufacturing and Investment Zones (NMIZ) in the state.
The zones are proposed at Zaheerabad (Medak district), Chittoor and around the proposed Ramayapatnam port in Prakasam district in an area of 5,000 hectares each.
Geeta Reddy said manufacturing would be the focus of the state, during the 12th Five Year Plan. She claimed that despite slowdown and other problems, Andhra Pradesh recorded higher industrial growth rate than the national average during 11th Plan. The industrial growth rate in the state during 2011-12 was 7.33% against the national growth rate of 3.95.

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