Work On First Dedicated EV Park To Begin At Orvakal Soon

Vijayawada: Giving a big boost to new age mobility positioning Andhra Pradesh as the leader in India's electric vehicle revolution, the work on the Rs1,800-crore investment by People Tech Enterprises on an EV park, the first of its kind in the country at Orvakal in Kurnool district of Rayalaseema region is likely to be launched shortly.

Orvakal node, which is part of Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC) is spread over around 10,000 acres at a close distance from Krishnapatnam and Chennai ports. The Centre has already picked up Orvakal and Kopparthy in neighbouring Kadapa district for development as a smart city.

Andhra Pradesh as part of Sustainable Electric Mobility Policy unveiled by the State Government for 2024-29, aims to increase the EV in two wheeler segment to two lakh, register at least 10,000 new three-wheelers, add 20,000, electric battery operated cars to 20,000 and 100 use of electric buses by APSRTC. A charging station will be set up for every 30-km distance and bring charging station density of one per 3x3 km grid in designated e-mobility cities. It envisages e-mobility cities and to support startup incubation centres with Rs.5 billion and incentivise private industrial parks, recyclers and scrapping facilities.

Talks are in progress to convince Tesla management to set up a manufacturing facility in the area for which the government promised to offer land and other slew of incentives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi early this year laid the stone for Krishnapatnam Industrial Area called Krishna City. The EV Park project for which MoU had already been signed after the NDA Government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu decided to give fast-track project status.

The project will come up in an area of 1200 acres to foster an EV ecosystem. The park is projected to bring an investment of around Rs13,000 crore with job opportunities for 25,000. The park area will be named as Orvakal Mobility Valley. The park, the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, is envisaged with a world-class R&D lab, plug & play facilities and social infrastructure for avoiding attrition of workforce.

According to officials connected with implementing the project, the first vehicle from the complex will be rolled out by the end of next year. After the MoU, in a posting on X, Industries Minister TG Bharath said: "In a historic milestone, People Tech Enterprises has signed an MoU with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to establish India’s First Private Electric Vehicle Park – Orvakal Mobility Valley in Kurnool. This ambitious project is a testament to the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu Garu and the relentless efforts of IT Minister Shri Nara Lokesh Garu in transforming Andhra Pradesh into a hub for innovation and sustainability."