BHEL-NTPC project in Andhra to take off this week

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday to lay the foundation stone for the much delayed Rs6,000-crore Mannavaram power equipment manufacturing unit at Mannavaram village near Srikalahasthi. The prime minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Tirupati international airport.

The joint venture power equipment project by state-owned companies BHEL and National Thermal Power Corp is estimated to provide 6,000 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect jobs, and will give scope for setting up 2,000 ancillary units in the vicinity of Chittoor-Nellore border.

The joint venture company will carry out engineering, procurement, erection, commissioning, etc, for power plants as well as infrastructure projects.

Chief minister K Rosaiah has directed state government officials to lay a four-lane road at Mannavaram and connect it to the nearest national highway.

The mega project, scheduled to start nearly two years ago, has been waiting for the formal inauguration by the prime minister, which was cancelled several times.

The PM will also lay the foundation stone for Tirupati international airport. The Airport Authority of India has agreed to bear the capital expenditure of Rs300 crore, while the state government will provide the required land of about 718 acres. The state government has handed over advance possession of land totalling 293.05 acres.