The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : AAI sets its sights on City of Destiny

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

AAI sets its sights on City of Destiny

Special Correspondent

To scout for site for greenfield international airport

Small players in IT keen to set up shop in Vizag
VUDA determined to make Vizag the Silicon Valley of India, says its Vice Chairman

— Photo: C.V.Subrahmanyam

Expert talk: Infotech Enterprises Limited CMD B.V.R. Mohan Reddy addressing a seminar organised by Confederation of Indian Industry in Visakhapatnam on Friday.

VISHAKAPATNAM: As Visakhapatnam is expanding industrially and in IT sector, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is on the lookout of sites near Visakhapatnam to set up a new greenfield international airport, said Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority Vice-Chairman G. Venkataram Reddy.

Addressing a conference on information technology-advantage Vizag, under the auspices of the Andhra Pradesh Chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Friday, he said the area around Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, about 50 km. from Vizag, or some location in between Vizag and Kakinada were the areas being looked into by the AAI for the ultramodern airport. He hoped a location near the coast might be finalised.

Obstacles

Stressing that Vizag is a safer and better city for investment than Hyderabad, he said small players in the IT and IT enabled services sector were showing interest to open shops in the 100 acre industrial park in Rushikonda, Some people were putting obstacles for industrialisation in the guise of environment protection for the Yarada project.

“We will develop Yarada hills where about 1,300 acres are available, in a planned manner.”

Happening place

The VUDA was determined to make Vizag the Silicon Valley of India. Presently the steel city had two special economic zones, Mr. Reddy said.

CII AP Chapter Deputy Chairman and CMD of Infotech Enterprises Limited B.V.R. Mohan Reddy said the city of destiny had all the credentials – physical infrastructure, academic institutions, domestic market, financial support and better communication facilities to become India’s Silicon Valley. Extremely hard working software engineers of India, wonderful educational institutions and good English speaking workforce have made the country to get outstanding advantage in the IT sector, he said.

Mr. Pradeep Dhobale, CII AP Chairman, said Vizag had emerged as a promising destination for investors with its cosmopolitan ambience coupled with proactive government policies.

Promising destination

Vizag had become a vibrant and potential city for industrialisation.

CII had taken several initiatives on skill development at all levels, he said and highlighted the on going CII Skill Gap study in the State and the active participation of CII in upgrading ITI s into Centre of excellence.

CII AP Convener Shakti Sagar said IT and ITES companies were looking at Tier II and III cities because of its cost effectiveness, proactive approach of the administration and the abundant skilled man power.

Vizag would experience a quantum leap in growth and could achieve greater heights in the near future, he hoped.

CII Vizag zonal council chairman Dr. Varma Vegesna said Vizag had all the potential to emerge as the next best destination for industrial investment after Hyderabad.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail