Nara Lokesh Reaffirms Government Control Over Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Plans for IT and Industrial Growth in AP

During a recent media briefing after attending the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) summit, Andhra Pradesh’s Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh firmly dismissed rumors about the privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). He countered what he described as “bad propaganda” by the opposition, assuring that the government will keep the steel plant under its control.

Lokesh highlighted that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made it clear that privatization of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), which oversees VSP, is not on the table. “RINL privatization is not acceptable,” Lokesh declared, further stating that the Chief Minister is in discussions with the Central government to address the challenges faced by the steel plant and will announce a decision soon.

The minister held a meeting with Telugu Desam leaders and local MLAs to deliberate on RINL’s challenges and vowed to resolve the issues swiftly. He also expressed his deep connection with Visakhapatnam, affirming his commitment to the city’s growth and industrial future.

In addition to the steel plant, Lokesh emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s renewed attractiveness to investors, thanks to the state government’s proactive efforts. He stated, “We are aiming to create 20 lakh jobs in the near future,” and stressed that industrial investments in Visakhapatnam, particularly in the IT and data center sectors, will play a major role in this growth. He revealed plans to engage directly with industrial groups and announced upcoming field visits and roadshows to build relationships with industry leaders.

Lokesh further outlined technological advancements, noting the importance of updating servers every three years. He projected that establishing data centers would create significant job opportunities, especially with Andhra Pradesh positioning Visakhapatnam as a future hub for the pharmaceutical, defence, and IT sectors. “In the next 100 days, we aim to achieve better results in the IT sector,” he added confidently.

Additionally, Lokesh apologized to a Visakhapatnam resident whose car was hit by his convoy during the visit. Taking responsibility for the incident, he assured that the matter would be resolved, and such occurrences would not happen again.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh’s infrastructure and investment plans were discussed, with a focus on making Visakhapatnam a global destination for IT. Lokesh emphasized the state’s transition from “ease of doing business” to the “speed of doing business.” Andhra Pradesh Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy echoed Lokesh’s vision and praised the state’s ongoing investments in ports, airports, and economic corridors, citing strategic projects such as the development of four greenfield ports at Ramayapatnam, Bhavanapadu, Machilipatnam, and Kakinada Gateway with a budget of ₹17,605 crore.

Together, these initiatives are aimed at positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leader in India’s journey toward becoming a $5 trillion economy.