Andhra Pradesh is investing heavily in infrastructure projects in the coming 10-15 years to attract investments into the State, according to Ajay Jain, State Energy and Infrastructure Secretary.
He was speaking at a seminar here on Friday morning before the launch of the Infrastructure Development Mission by the Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, in the evening. Infra mission is one of the seven missions to be launched by the State Government for the integrated development of the State.
Explaining the features of the mission, he said that a state maritime board would be set up for the development of ports in the State.
At present, there were four functioning ports - Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Kakinada and Krishnapatnam - and several more would come up to exploit the potential of the 980-km coastline.
International airport
Similarly, an international airport would be set up at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district and the airports at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, and Tirupati would be upgraded. There would be an airport for each of the districts except Srikakulam, he added.
Jain said in all 139 projects would be taken up in the State during the next 15 years or so at an estimated cost of more than $200 billion and they would be in the PPP mode.
Industrial corridors
Two major industrial corridors - one from Chennai to Visakhapatnam and the other from Chennai to Bengaluru - would pass through the State, and the infrastructure in the State would be upgraded accordingly.
Later, there was a session on port-led development in which Visakhapatnam port chairman M.T Krishna Babu and others participated.