Anakapalle: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the government is absorbing the electricity burden without passing it on to the people and is actively working to reduce power charges. As part of nation-building, Naidu emphasized the promotion of the renewable energy sector.
Foundation Laid for ReNew Energy Plants
On Thursday, CM Naidu performed the groundbreaking ceremony for two ReNew Energy Global plants at Z Chintuva in Rambilli mandal, Anakapalle district. ReNew Energy Global is set to invest Rs 5,400 crore in Rambilli. The CM laid the foundation for a solar ingot-wafer manufacturing unit, led by Sumit Sinha, son of former Union minister Yaswanth Sinha, and a hybrid captive renewable power project. ReNew Energy Global plans to establish a 6.5-gigawatt solar ingot-wafer manufacturing unit with an investment of Rs 4,200 crore and a 125-megawatt hybrid captive renewable power project with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore. The goal is to complete these projects within two years, creating job opportunities for 2,100 people.
Anakapalle Transforming into Investment Hub
Speaking at a public meeting, Naidu said Anakapalle district is attracting development through massive investments and will reach the top position in India in terms of investment. Recently, the foundation was laid for the Arcelor Mittal Nippon India Steel Plant. He compared Anakapalle's growth to Ranga Reddy district, which transformed from a backward area into one of the wealthiest regions. "I urge the company to establish the ReNew Energy headquarters here. We invite not only ReNew Energy but also national and international companies to invest in Andhra Pradesh. In the past 22 months, we have signed 802 MoUs and are continuously negotiating on them," Naidu said.
Upcoming Projects and Infrastructure
He stated that every day is an investment festival in North Andhra Pradesh. The government will lay the foundation for Google's AI data centre with a $15 billion investment on April 28. Bhogapuram airport will be operational in July. Laurus Labs is coming forward with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore. A four-railway-line speed rail corridor is coming between Visakhapatnam and Rajamahendravaram for cargo. There is no need to go to other states for job opportunities, the CM said.
Green Energy and EV Initiatives
"We are encouraging the establishment of large-scale electricity production plants in the state. The NDA government is providing good governance, intending to rebuild Andhra Pradesh, which was destroyed by previous rulers. We have set a target to produce 160 gigawatts of green energy in Andhra Pradesh. Already, work is underway to produce 90 gigawatts of electricity. Investments worth Rs 5.95 lakh crores have come into this sector, and MoUs are ready. We are taking steps to bring green EV vehicles. In the future, all RTC buses will be EV buses. We are going to set up 5,000 charging stations across the state," he said.
Correcting Past Mistakes
The CM said that his government is correcting the mistakes of the past government in various systems, including the electricity sector. Between 2019 and 2024, they cancelled PPAs, bought electricity at high prices due to mismanagement, and destroyed the electricity system. "The previous rulers imposed a burden of Rs 32,000 crore on the people. For the first time in history, the NDA government implemented true-down instead of the true-up charges imposed by the previous rulers," CM said. The government will complete the Polavaram project by the time of the Godavari Pushkaralu and dedicate it to the nation. The government will develop various regions with Amaravati as the centre from West Godavari to Prakasam, and with Tirupati as the centre throughout Rayalaseema, including Visakhapatnam and nine districts.
