Millennium Tower-B likely to be ready by year-end

Misses deadlines due to delay in release of funds

Visakhapatnam: THE Millennium Tower-B, one among a few super-structures of Andhra Pradesh is expected to be ready for occupation by year-end.

The project conceived post-bifurcation and Hudhud cyclone along with Millennium Tower-A has missed several deadlines for want of release of required funds. Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) is the nodal agency entrusted with the responsibility to develop the twin towers on the posh Rushiklonda Hills of Visakhapatnam, the proposed executive capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Considered the main IT hub of Visakhapatnam, Rushikonda is touted to become the Madhapur of AP once the executive capital is made operational. Located atop hillocks, several buildings have the view of blue waters of Bay of Bengal.

"We are confident of completing work on Millennium Tower-B by year-end. Work is going on at brisk pace as per the directions of the government," a senior official of APIIC told Bizz Buzz on Tuesday.

Millennium Tower-A, which houses Conduent, an IT company, has a built-up area of two lakh sft with 1.5 lakh sft in two floors in the cellar for parking of 500 cars. There were speculations that the 10-floor Internet of Things-enabled building along with the new tower will be considered to house Secretariat and other key officials as part of the capital. However, the government subsequently described the reports as 'figments of imagination.' The Incubation Valley (erstwhile Startup Village) is also developed and managed by APIIC. It has a built-up space of 50,000 sft. It is adjacent to the twin towers.

Millennium Tower-B has a built-up space of two lakh sft with ample provision for car parking. While the government spent Rs 145 crore on construction of tower A, the new tower construction is expected to cost less.

During the Telugu Desam regime bids were called to construct a Signature Tower on the lines of the Cyber Towers of Hyderabad. Due to lukewarm response, the idea to build and operate it on PPP basis was dropped. The YSRCP Government has a plan to construct a business hub with several towers and hotels on BOT basis in an area of 19 acres at Hill No 3 of Rushikonda, which was earlier allotted to Kennexa Tech. It was taken over by APIIC later for failure to adhere to allotment conditions. "Though we cancelled the express of interest notification, we have plans to take it up at an appropriate time to make Rushikonda an international business hub and a centre for Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism," a close aide of Industries Minister Mekapati Gowtham Reddy, said.