AP Cabinet gave Nod for bar licence fee to Rs 25 lakh from Rs 66 lakh in three star and above category hotels

AMARAVATI : The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet gave its approval for taking up several projects, with emphasis on industrial development and generation of employment in Vijayawada on Thursday. Nod has been given for the proposal from M/s ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India to set up a steel plant with an investment of Rs 1.35 lakh crore to produce 17.8 million tonnes of steel in two phases. The firm’s request to set up a captive port with 2.9km waterfront near DL Puram in Anakapalli district was approved. Clause 30.1.1 of Indian Port Act 1908, of the port concession agreement of Kakinada Gateway Port Ltd., would be amended to help set up the captive port.

With this, the firm could set up the 7.3 million metric tonne capacity steel plant at a cost of Rs 55,964 crore. Production could start by January, 2029, which would help generate employment to 20,000 persons, the cabinet meeting reckoned. In the second phase, the firm would set up a 10.5 million metric tonne capacity steel plant at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore by 2033 with employment potential for 35,000 persons. Similarly, the captive port with a 20.5 million metric tonne per annum capacity would be set up at a cost of Rs 5,816 crore by January, 2029 with employment potential for 1,000 persons, along with the setting up of the steel plant in the first phase

The setting up of the captive port at a cost of Rs 5,380 crore by January 2029 along with the setting up of 10.5 minion metric tonne capacity steel plant in the second phase with a job potential for 5,000 persons, has been approved by the cabinet. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who chaired the meeting, asked officials to clear hurdles in the setting up of this project in a stipulated period. As the state government made all efforts to protect the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from privatisation and agreed to convert the Rs 2,400 crore worth power bill as equity, the plant earned profits in March. Accordingly, the cabinet decided to replace the central security with the state police at the plant. Moreover, the Cabinet has also decided to set up ports and fishing harbours at all viable places along the coastline.Information minister Kolusu Parthasarathi announced the decisions taken at the cabinet meeting to the media here on Thursday. Given the huge potential for development of tourism and to enhance sources of income to the state exchequer, as also to improve employment opportunities, the chief minister said the tourism sector should be developed in a big way. Accordingly, nearly 50,000 rooms would be constructed in the next five years in addition to developing temple

Accordingly, the cabinet has given its approval to reduce the bar licence fee to Rs 25 lakh from Rs 66 lakh in three star and above category hotels in the state. With this, the hospitality and tourism sectors would develop in a big way on par with other states, the CM felt, and stressed that the state would witness economic development and create huge job opportunities. The Cabinet has agreed for the holding of a programme to award Ugadi Puraskars in a big way and encourage various arts and culture by ratifying the GOs issued in these respects by the department of youth services, tourism and culture. Nod was also given for a proposal to rarity the GO providing government guarantee to the AP Power Finance Corporation to take a loan of Rs 710 crore from HUDCO. Another approval was for implementing the arbitration award issued on 08-12-2024 to compensate the loss caused to M/s NECL to APGenco, of Rs 1,735.35 crore, with regard to a contract for the Polavaram hydro electric project. Accordingly, a compensation of Rs 742cr to M/s NECL and Rs 986.17 crore to APGenco have been approved. The CM ordered an inquiry on the proposal seeking an additional financial aid worth Rs 44.60 crore for construction of a retaining wall at Vempadu Major of Nagarjuna Sagar Left Branch Canal through the Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme package IV. The cabinet has also given its approval for a proposal to set up a special purpose vehicle called ‘Jala Harathi Corporation’ and appoint directors and other staff for taking up the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project works