The draft master plan for the Petroleum, Chemical. Petro-chemical Investment Region (PCPIR) coming up between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada is ready and will be submitted to the Union Government next month for approval, according to Jayesh Ranjan, Vice-chairman and Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC).
He was speaking here on Thursday at a review meeting in the District Collector's office on the progress of the project. He said the project would cover 97 villages in the districts of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari along the coast, 57 of the villages being inhabited by fishermen. He said there was no need for any apprehensions on the future of the fishermen and an Rs 2,000-crore package had been prepared for their rehabilitation and for various welfare schemes. Fishing harbours would be built in the region and more landing centres would come up for their benefit.
Land acquisition
He said no additional land would be acquired for the PCPIR, except for the six-lane expressway coming up between Gangavaram port and Kakinada port covering 138 km. Already land had been acquired for the Atchyuthapuram and Nakkapalli SEZ in Visakhapatnam district and for Kakinada special economic zone in East Godavari district. No more land would be needed except for the expressway, which would be linked to the National Highway 5 and the State roads.
He said the mega project would transform the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada belt and generate employment to 12 lakh persons directly or indirectly. Therefore, it should be welcomed and there was no room for apprehensions, he said.
East Godavari District Collector said the district administration would acquire the land needed for the expressway, once the alignment was finalised and approved.