Andhra Minister Lokesh Launches Sagar Defence Shipbuilding Centre in Nellore
State HRD Minister Nara Lokesh laid the foundation stone for the Sagar Defence shipbuilding and systems development centre at Juvalladinne fishing harbour in Bogole mandal of Nellore district on Thursday.
Boosting Defence Manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh
Nara Lokesh emphasised the state government's strong commitment to transforming Andhra Pradesh into a premier destination for defence manufacturing and advanced maritime technology. He noted that the establishment of this world-class facility serves as a clear testament to growing investor confidence in the NDA government currently leading the state.
Sagar Defence will invest ₹45 crore in the first phase of this ambitious project. The minister highlighted Andhra Pradesh's strategic advantage, noting that the state possesses the second-longest coastline in India. He outlined the government's comprehensive plan to develop specialized "blue economy" clusters and modern industrial hubs along this extensive coastline to maximize economic potential.
Juvalladinne Harbour: A Transformative Project
Lokesh described the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour as a "dream project" of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. This modern harbour is designed to accommodate 1,250 mechanised boats and features an impressive storage capacity of 41,000 tonnes of fish. The primary aim is to significantly improve the livelihoods of approximately 25,000 fishing families in the region.
Creating Local High-Tech Employment
Nellore TDP MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy hailed the project as a tremendous matter of pride for the state. He announced that Juvalladinne would host the world's first Sagar Defence Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding Systems Centre. Reddy remarked that this development means local youth will no longer need to migrate to distant cities for employment opportunities, as high-tech, skilled jobs are being brought directly to their doorstep.
The foundation stone ceremony was attended by several prominent TDP leaders, including Kovur legislator Vemireddy Prashanti Reddy, Kavali legislator Kavya Krishna Reddy, and MLC Beeda Ravichandra, among others, showcasing broad political support for this infrastructure initiative.
