TCS’s decision to set up a centre in Visakhapatnam followed sustained efforts by Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh, who met with the Tatas in Mumbai last October to make the case for investment in the city.
Published Apr 15, 2025 | 7:30 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 16, 2025 | 9:34 AM
AP cabinet clears Quantum Valley project in Amaravati
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh cabinet has approved the allotment of 21.66 acres of land in Visakhapatnam to Tata Consultancy Services at a nominal price of ₹0.99, paving the way for a ₹1,370 crore investment expected to generate 12,000 jobs. The pro-business move is part of a broader push by the state government to transform Vizag into a major technology hub, following efforts by IT Minister Nara Lokesh to attract investment.
The Andhra Pradesh cabinet has approved a proposal by Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh to allocate 21.66 acres of land at IT Hill 3 in Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) at a nominal price of ₹0.99.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting held at the State Secretariat in Velagapudi, Amaravati, on Tuesday, 15 April.
TCS plans to invest ₹1,370 crore in setting up a new facility in the port city, with the potential to create 12,000 jobs.
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, who briefed the media following the meeting, said the cabinet also approved the allotment of 3.5 acres at IT Hill 3 and 56 acres at Kapuluppada to United States-based data centre firm URSA Clusters for the establishment of a Data and Information Technology Centre.
The company is proposing an investment of ₹5,278 crore, with the project expected to generate around 2,500 jobs.
TCS’s decision to set up a centre in Visakhapatnam followed sustained efforts by Minister Lokesh, who met the Tatas in Mumbai last October to make the case for investment in the city.
The land allotment is reminiscent of a similiar move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister, when Tata Motors was offered land in Sanand at ₹0.99 per acre to set up its Nano manufacturing plant.
The government hopes the presence of major IT firms like TCS will further accelerate the development of Visakhapatnam as a technology hub.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said his government is taking on a fresh challenge to bring Andhra Pradesh “back on track”.
“In my first tenure as Chief Minister of AP in the 1990s, I remember Hyderabad started out as second to Bengaluru. Today, Hyderabad is No 1 in India in all parameters. Today is a fresh challenge and an opportunity, and we will live up to it. No. 2 means we work harder,” he wrote in a post on X.
In my first tenure as CM of AP in the 1990s, I remember Hyderabad started out as second to Bangalore. Today Hyderabad is the No. 1 city in India in all parameters.
Today is a fresh challenge and an opportunity, and we will live up to it. No. 2 means we work harder.… pic.twitter.com/2PHJkPbUxG
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) April 15, 2025
Naidu’s cryptic message seems to allude to the ‘We Try Harder’ campaign launched by United States-based car rental company Avis in the 1960s, when it sought to challenge market leader Hertz by focusing on determination and customer service.
The post also hinted at the state government’s ambition to surpass Tamil Nadu, which recorded the highest Gross State Domestic Product growth in 2023–24 at 9.69 percent.
In another significant development, the cabinet approved the issuance of an ordinance for the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
The state had taken up the exercise for sub-classification after the Supreme Court, on 1 August 2024, reaffirmed a 2023 judgement allowing states to sub-categorise Scheduled Caste communities.
Social Welfare Minister Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said the move aims to promote equitable and inclusive development among different Scheduled Caste sub-groups.
The state’s 59 Scheduled Castes will be divided into three groups based on population, backwardness, and social cohesion, with reservation quotas as follows:
The state government had earlier sought recommendations from a one-man commission headed by Rajiv Ranjan Mishra and referred the report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs). Following clearance, the cabinet approved the ordinance.
Until the next national census, the classification will apply with the entire state as the unit. Post-census, the government will consider implementing district-based sub-classification.
The new system will be applied in the upcoming teacher recruitment by the District Selection Committee (DSC), Minister Veeranjaneya Swamy added.
Home Minister A Anitha confirmed that police have registered a case against former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy for allegedly circulating morphed images of dead cows.
The images were reportedly used to claim that poor maintenance at the TTD goshala in Tirupati had led to the deaths of animals.
Anitha said the photographs were altered and shared “with the intention of playing with the sentiments of devotees for political gain.”
According to sources, the TTD board lodged a complaint with the Tirupati Superintendent of Police, V Harsha Vardhan Raju, alleging that a campaign was being carried out to tarnish the image of the goshala in Tirupati.
TTD member Bhanu Prakash Reddy, who filed the complaint, said Karunakar Reddy had falsely alleged that 100 cows had died and described the goshala as a “go vadha shala” (cow slaughterhouse). Reddy also claimed that during Karunakar Reddy’s own tenure as TTD chairman, several cows had died due to neglect.
In other key decisions, the cabinet approved a proposal from the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department to delegate authority to the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Commissioner to finalise lowest (L1) bids for the construction of the Legislative Assembly Building and the High Court Building. The estimated project costs are ₹617.33 crore and ₹786.05 crore, respectively.
The cabinet also approved the allocation of power projects to Odisha Power Consortium Limited. These include the Balimela (Chitrakonda) Dam Powerhouse (2×30 megawatt) and the Jalaput Dam Powerhouse (3×6 megawatt).
Further, the cabinet cleared the allotment of 6.35 acres of land in Nadimpalem village, Prathipadu mandal (Guntur district), to the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for constructing a 100-bed hospital and staff quarters. The land will be provided either free of cost or on a nominal lease.
In support of industrial development, the cabinet approved the allocation of 87.56 acres of government land in Krishnapatnam, Muthukur mandal (SPSR Nellore district), to the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) at no cost, for the development of an industrial park. It also gave the green light for allotting 220.81 acres in Nelaturu village, also in Muthukur mandal, to APIIC for a similar purpose.
Additionally, 516.58 acres of land in Relli village, Kothavalasa mandal (Vizianagaram district), were allocated for establishing a Greyhounds Training Centre under the Home Department. The land will be priced at ₹27 lakh per acre, replacing an earlier government order (GO Ms No. 630).
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
