NELLORE: Two 600 MW mini power plants at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,000 crores each will soon be set up at Krishnapatnam.

"Besides these two plants, one more power plant of similar capacity might also come up at Krishnapatnam of Sarvepalli constituency. The Government has already given its clearance for the two plants and work might commence after obtaining other clearances. Two new plants as well as one more proposed mini plant are in addition to the 4,000 MW coal-based ultra mega power project, which the Centre has planned at an estimated cost of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 crores at Krishnapatnam," former Minister and Sarvepalli MLA Adala Prabhakara Reddy told The Hindu on Tuesday.

The development of ultra mega power plant as well as mini power plants are expected generate employment avenues to hundreds of local people. 500 acres of land should be made available for each mini power plant, the local MLA said. Accordingly, a two-lane road, which connects the Krishnapatnam port and National Highway - 5 might be upgraded to a four-lane road by middle of 2007.

Moreover, a railway line might be laid between Venkatachalam of Nellore and the port in the same period to improve road, rail and sea connectivity for all these projects.

Meanwhile, works pertaining to the ultra mega power plant might commence next year with the Centre planning to transfer the project to the selected developer by April next year.

The Power Finance Corporation, the nodal agency that conducts bidding had received requests, both from foreign corporate giants as well as domestic companies for the project, said a senior official.

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