Page 6 - Andhra Pradesh

Cash-strapped states pulled out of flagship PMFBY, says Centre

Centre willing to make additional pro-farmer changes in response to climate change

Aurobindo Pharma aims to complete Rs 2,000 Cr Pen-G plant in AP by March'24

Aurobindo Pharma's aims to complete its Rs 2,000 crore Penicillin G (Pen G) plant in Andhra Pradesh by March 2024 even as the trial or the pilot batches will take place starting October next year onwards, S Subramanian, Chief Financial Officer, Aurobindo Pharma has said. Replying to a query during the recent earnings call, he said the overall project of USD 235 million, the major will be to put a de-salination plant, the fermentation process, power blocks, among others and multiple subprojects are being done with purchase orders been issued. "So, we believe by next September or October, the installation should be over. After that, the trial or the pilot batches will take place starting October next year onwards. So, our target is to complete the projects by March'24 and it's our endeavour to advance it," Subramanian said. "The material is expected to be received in this quarter and the next quarter and significant portions of the buildings and blocks have been done," he further ...

PFC sanctions Rs 3,940 crore loan for Machilipatnam port in Andhra

Power Finance Corporation has sanctioned a loan of Rs 3,940 crore for the construction of the Machilipatnam greenfield seaport, Lok Sabha MP V Balashowri said on Saturday. The loan sanction letter has been sent to Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Ltd, the MP told reporters here. The estimated cost of the Machilipatnam port is Rs 5,253.89 crore. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation of Machilipatnam port works on December 21, he added. He said that the authorities have started work for acquiring land for the construction of road-cum-rail connectivity for Machilipatnam port. The R&B Principal Secretary Praveen Prakash and former minister and local MLA Perni Ventaramaiah and other officials visited Machilipatnam and Pedana for the land recently. The Machilipatnam port will be constructed on nearly 4,000 acres in two phases as per the master plan.

India has become focal point of world's expectations, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Saturday that India has become the center point to the world's desires and programmes like PM Gati Shakti were attracting more foreign investments into the country. Addressing a meeting after launching several infrastructure development projects here, the Prime Minister said PM Gati Shakti has not only speeded up infrastructure development but also helped cut costs. "Integrated view is of prime importance for infrastructure development. Isolated view taken in the past has caused heavy losses to the country," Modi pointed out. He said supply chains and logistics depended on multi-modal connectivity. Multi-modal transport system would be the future of every city. The PM also noted that "blue economy" has become a top priority for the first time. Port-led development has also become the key, he added.

Protesters against VSP privatisation held during PM's visit to Vizag

VUPCC, which is spearheading the movement against the Centre's move to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), has called for protests during the Prime Minister's visit

PM Modi launches infra projects worth Rs 15,233 cr in Andhra Pradesh

: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated to the nation the Rs 2,917 crore U-field Onshore Deepwater Block project of ONGC in Andhra Pradesh. It is the deepest gas discovery project with a production potential of about three million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD). On the second day of his two-day tour of the state, the Prime Minister in all launched nine projects worth Rs 15,233 crore in virtual mode from the Andhra University Engineering College grounds and unveiled a plaque. Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, state ministers, MPs and legislators attended the event. Modi dedicated the 39-km Narasannapeta to Pathapatnam section of NH-326A built at a cost of Rs 211 crore as part of the Srikakulam-Gajapati Corridor. The project would provide better connectivity to the backward areas of AP and Odisha. Modi laid foundation stone for the AP section of six-lane

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi conducts road show in Andhra Pradesh's Vizag

From PM Modi's visit to southern states to Congress releasing its second list of candidates ahead of Gujarat polls, catch all the live updates here

What is Vikram S: India's first private satellite vehicle set for launch

India will launch its first privately developed rocket, Vikram S, from the ISRO's launchpad at Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota between November 12 and 16

AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurates ITC's global spices processing facility

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday inaugurated ITC's global spices processing facility at the Spices Park at Yedlapadu in Palnadu district. The state-of-the-art Rs 200 crore facility will have a capacity to process 20,400 tonnes of spices like turmeric, chilli and blended spices annually in the first phase. Speaking on the occasion, ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri said once fully complete in two phases, it would be the largest spices processing facility in the country catering to customers across the world. "This plant is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and conforms to all global standards of safe food production to the requirements of global customers. This will be aligned to our philosophy of sustainable and inclusive growth," Sanjiv Puri said. The facility also has renewable energy and would enable strengthen ITCs footprint in the agri-value chain and empower farmers, he added. The ITC chairman said they were now rolling out ITC Marts that would be

Only 2.1 mn houses to be built for poor in AP as against sanctioned 2.83 mn

The Andhra Pradesh government will construct only 21 lakh houses for the poor under its much-hyped 'Pedalandariki Illu' (Housing for All) programme, as against the 28.30 lakh originally sanctioned. State Housing Minister J Ramesh said, "We have distributed 30.20 lakh house sites and are building 21 lakh houses in two phases. The programme will be completed by March 2024." He said 80 per cent of the houses were under construction now. The Minister, however, did not elaborate why the scheme has been scaled down to 21 lakh from 28,30,227 houses as sanctioned in the year 2020. In the first phase, 15.10 lakh houses were supposed to be built by June 2022 and, in the second phase, another 13.20 lakh by June 2023 at a total cost of Rs 50,944 crore. The government has, in fact, taken up 18,63,562 houses in the first phase but construction of over four lakh of those has not started even after a lapse of over 17 months. As per the latest data of the Housing Department, only 1,52,325 of the

Education not business to earn profit, fees shall always be affordable: SC

Education is not a business to earn profit and tuition fees shall always be affordable, the Supreme Court has said while upholding the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing the state government's decision to enhance the tuition fee in medical colleges to Rs 24 lakh per annum. A bench of Justices M R Shah and Sudhanshu Dhulia imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on the petitioner, Narayana Medical College, and Andhra Pradesh to be deposited with the court registry within a period of six weeks. "To enhance the fee to Rs 24 lakh per annum i.e., seven times more than the fee fixed earlier was not justifiable at all. Education is not the business to earn profit. The tuition fee shall always be affordable," the bench said. The top court's observation came while dismissing a plea filed by the college against an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court which set aside the government's decision to enhance the tuition fee of MBBS students. The high court had held that considering the provisions of

Ground cleared for new international airport project in Visakhapatnam

Ground is now fully cleared for the much-delayed Visakhapatnam International Airport project to take off. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office has written to the Prime Minister's Office requesting that Narendra Modi lay the foundation stone, possibly virtually, for the new airport construction during his visit to port city Visakhapatnam on November 12. But the PMO has not included it in Modi's itinerary, official sources said. Development of the new international airport in Public-Private Partnership mode at Bhogapuram, 40-km northeast of Visakhapatnam, was first mooted in the year 2014, post-bifurcation of the state as the existing one in the city is owned by the Indian Navy. For various reasons, the project did not take off in over eight years. The original plan was grandiose as the state government wanted to build an aerotropolis that would include aviation-linked manufacturing units, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, research and development centr

TDP leader Ayyanna Patrudu, his son arrested for alleged documents forgery

The two leaders were arrested by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) Police earlier today and moved to the Eluru district.

CM Jagan, Amit Shah extend greetings to people on AP formation day

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday unfurled the national flag on the occasion of formation day of the state, at his camp office. He paid floral tributes to 'Amarajeevi' Potti Sriramulu, who made supreme sacrifice for the cause of the people of Andhra. Andhra Pradesh Formation Day is a festival day to commemorate our culture, our glory, the struggles and victories of our ancestors and the sacrifices of many great people who were born on this soil. Remembering the sacrifice of 'Amarajeevi' Potti Sriramulu, let's rededicate ourselves for the all-round development of the state, Jagan Mohan Reddy said in a tweet. Taking to Twitter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, My heartiest greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Statehood Day. Andhra Pradesh is known for its wonderful culture and great-hearted people. I pray that Andhra Pradesh will develop further in the future." AP Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan conveyed his wishes to the pe

Barbers stage protest in Tirumala against harassment by vigilance staff

Barbers on Thursday staged a protest due to harassment by the vigilance staff at Kalyankattas in Tirumala, said the officials.

Resource crunch delaying housing scheme in AP; officials urge CM for funds

The Housing Department has appealed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for immediate release of Rs 2,361 crore to make progress in the construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (Urban) in the state. The Government of India has already released Rs 4,032 crore under PMAY-U so far in the 2022-23 financial year but the AP government released only Rs 2,556 crore of the grant to the Housing Department, diverting another Rs 1,476 crore. Besides, of its proportionate share of Rs 1,389 crore, the state released only Rs 504 crore so far but stopped the balance citing "resource crunch", a senior official said. Payment of Rs 755 crore, including Rs 324 crore to the beneficiaries, has been pending, severely hampering the progress of the scheme. Over the last few years, the Centre sanctioned 16,84,502 houses to AP under PMAY-U but only 13,92,855 have been taken up for construction so far, the official added. AP, which tops the country drawing over 57 per c

Spat over format of Andhra Pradesh's capital city rattles global investors

The three-capital plan proposed by the YSR Congress implies a significant shrinkage of the Amaravati project.

Andhra, Telangana, Punjab frequently use RBI's short-term liquidity windows

: Andhra, Telangana, Rajasthan and Punjab along with three north-eastern states are repeatedly using the Reserve Bank's special short-term liquidity windows instead of market borrowings, indicating their serious cash imbalances, says a report. The north-eastern states which are over and again using these facilities are Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. The central bank offers three short-term liquidity windows -- special drawing facility (SDF; for 5 working days), ways and means advances (WMA, for 5 working days) and over draft (OD, for 14 working days) facilities to states to tide over their liquidity needs. One of the main reasons for the states to use these windows is the cheaper pricing than market borrowings. Till August, states have availed SDF facility at an average rate of 3.2-4.2 per cent, while state bonds are priced at 7.8 per cent or more. A recent RBI study has identified 10 "vulnerable states" in terms fiscal management -- Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Keral

Two dead after fire breaks out at firecracker stalls in Andhra Pradesh

Two persons were charred to death in a fire that broke out in a cluster of firecracker shops in Vijayawada in the early hours of Sunday, police said. Workers were apparently sleeping in one of the three shops that got gutted in the fire, police said. Three firecracker shops were burnt down fully but quick response by the Fire Services personnel prevented the accident from destroying other shops. People residing in houses in the vicinity were jolted out of their sleep following the explosive sound caused by the fire. There is a fuel station exactly opposite the ground where the firecracker shops were set up for Deepavali festival but luckily the blaze did not spread, as at least four fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Police and Fire Services personnel were yet to determine the cause of the blaze. Local MLA Malladi Vishnu and city Police Commissioner K R Tata visited the scene to take stock of the situation. Local residents raised a protest over permitting the .

ISRO all set for maiden commercial launch of 36 broadband satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to make its maiden commercial launch of 36 broadband communication satellites on-board the space agency's heaviest rocket Launch Vehicle LVM3-M2, the countdown for which began early on Saturday at Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The 43.5 metre tall rocket is scheduled to lift-off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12.07 am on Sunday. The rocket is dubbed as one of the heaviest for its ability to carry satellites upto 8,000 kgs. Sunday's launch assumes significance as the LVM3-M2 mission is the maiden dedicated commercial mission for NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO. The mission is being undertaken as part of the commercial arrangement between NewSpace India Ltd and United Kingdom-based Network Access Associates Ltd (OneWeb Ltd), ISRO said. According to the space agency, the mission would carry the heaviest payloads with 36 satellites of OneWeb becoming the ..