Centre helping RINL get over its operational problems, says BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao

BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao gives full marks to the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for sanctioning a slew of projects to Andhra Pradesh and blames the State government for slow progress of certain projects mainly due to land alienation or delay in giving required clearances by the State authorities. He finds fault with the State government for not submitting revised proposals to undertake work on metro rail projects for Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada while reiterating that the Centre is willing to give grants under viability gap funding for metro rail projects.

In an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz, the MP who appears frequently in the prime time debates on national TV channels, sees a bright future for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He says the privatisation decision has been stalled. He is also optimistic about early operationalisation of South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam. On flight services to Visakhapatnam International Airport, the largest in AP, he said there are no restrictions in allowing new flights for domestic as well as international airports

Please give details on the contribution of the government of India under the NDA regime in bringing new projects to Andhra Pradesh in general and Visakhapatnam in particular?

The National Highways have more than doubled from 4,193 kms in April 2014 to over 9,000 kms at present.

Expenditure on Railways increased more than 10 times. Rs 8,406 crore allocation was made for the railways in Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget for the year 2023-24, while during 2009-14, average allocation to combined AP was only Rs 886 crore.

AP has the highest allocation of over 21.3 lakh houses under PMAY (Urban) with a total investment of over 91,593 crores with the central government contribution of Rs 32,500 crore.

AP has the second highest allocation under NREGS though the State is much smaller in population and poor population compared to many other States. The State received over Rs 55,000 crore under NREGS in nine years. HPCL invested over Rs 22,000 crore in HPCL Visakh Refinery modernisation and expansion project.

Hindustan Shipping Limited (HSL) has received over Rs 21,000 crore worth orders from the Ministry of Defence for building six fleet support ships. AP is one of the three States having a Bulk Drug Park sanctioned in the country. AP is the only State to have five industrial nodes in three industrial corridors viz. Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor, Chennai-Bangalore and Hyderabad-Bangalore Industrial Corridors.

These are just some of the special focus projects for AP. Under the National Industrial Pipeline (NIP), AP has 503 projects worth 8.16 lakh crore against 100 lakh crore in the country, which is twice that of State's share in the population.

Recently you had announced that the Centre has put on hold the disinvestment of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Can you please elaborate on it?

Based on my discussions with high ranking representatives in the government of India, I had stated that all decisions with regard to disinvestment have been stalled. Government is now helping the RINL to get over its operational problems by tying up raw material and funding sources. Non-core assets like Rae Bareli forged wheel plant and a 22 acre land parcel in Visakhapatnam city are likely to be divested to make funds available to the RINL.

Formation of a new railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam is a long-pending demand, which has been announced on the eve of 2019 elections. What is the progress so far for operationalising it?

Railway Board had sanctioned Rs 107 crore and initiated project works for the establishment of new South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone, like finalizing the building plans for the construction of the zonal headquarters. The State government had delayed alienation of land free of encroachments for the construction of the administrative building of the new zonal headquarters.

You had raised a question regarding the Metro Rail projects for Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada in Rajya Sabha sometime ago and the Minister concerned had clarified that they were yet to get a formal request from the State for viability gap funding? What is the present status?

AP government was asked to submit a new proposal as per the Metro Policy, 2017. The policy provides for viability gap funding by the Central government for the metro rail projects built by the States with public funding or in PPP mode. The State government has not submitted such a proposal so far.

The Ministry of Tourism-funded International Maritime Cruise Terminal was inaugurated recently. When cruise liners are expected to be operated from Visakhapatnam to other destinations?

Tourism is a State subject and inviting cruise liners and facilitating operations are to be made by the State government. The Ministry of Tourism, government of India only provided financial assistance for the construction of the cruise terminal. It has no role beyond that.

You had recently represented to the mandarins in the Ministry of Defence to change the timing and make use of latest technologies for undertaking resurfacing work on the runway of the airport in Visakhapatnam. Is there any progress on it?

I discussed the matter with the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-In-Chief), Eastern Naval Command who stressed on the need for 11 hours closure of runway for surfacing and curing in the interest of passenger safety. Longer duration for four months is because of absence of a parallel taxiing track in Visakhapatnam airfield. The ENC Chief, however, assured me that there would be no further inconvenience by way of any delays and slippage in timelines. He also assured me that they would increase ATC manpower to operate more flights during daytime in the available vacant slots.

There have been demand in various quarters to permit more slots so as to introduce flights to international destinations as Visakhapatnam at present has only one flight by Scoot to Singapore?

Problem is not with absence of time slots which are available for both domestic and international flight operations. If airlines are willing to operate more international flights, there would be no airport related constraints. It is a commercial decision airlines have to make. If any airline wants to operate domestic or international flights and is facing difficulties, I will be ready to assist in the interest of passenger convenience.

What are the reasons for relocating Bulk Drug Park sanctioned by the Centre from Kakinada to Nakkapali in Anakapalli district? When the construction will start?

Earlier, Kakinada was proposed for the construction of a bulk drug park by a private pharmaceutical company. But, the government of India's scheme permits only infrastructural investments only in State owned projects. Hence, the project was relocated in Anakapalli district on government land.

Can you please give details on efforts by Centre for encouraging startups and MSMEs in Andhra Pradesh?

Central government has promoted startups and MSMEs in a big way all over the country. Startup India initiative has made India a major startup destination. India has produced several unicorns among startups.

By substantially increasing the flow of credit to MSMEs and by offering credit guarantee schemes during the challenging Covid period, Centre has ensured the MSME sector that generates maximum employment not only survives but registers good growth.

By reserving 25 per cent of all Central government procurements for the MSME sector and by launching GEM (government e-market) procurement platform, government of India has ensured huge market opportunities for the MSME sector. "Vocal for Local" motto of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has generated huge demand for local products.