City-based industrialists are looking forward for the rare opportunity to meet the doyen of Indian industry, Ratan Tata who will be here to launch the Village Development Plans (VDP) of Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on August 24.
Mr. Tata’s last visit to the city was four years ago (in Aug 2011) in connection with a TATA Group company dealers’ meeting. The present trip is going to be a milestone both for the TATA Trust, headed by Mr. Tata himself, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh. TATA Trust is partnering with the State government offering a helping hand for the development of villages on a large scale.
By extending a helping hand in the development of 264 villages in four rural Assembly segments of Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency, it has opened a new chapter in the participation of private companies in creation of social infrastructure in the State.
Member of Parliament Kesineni Srinivas, who took the initiative in response to a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to MPs to adopt villages under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), is in an exuberant mood as the well-known trust has readily agreed to change the rural landscape in his constituency and Mr. Tata, present Chairman Emeritus of TATA Sons, has chosen to personally fly down to launch the project.
Mr. Tata’s visit assumes significance as it comes at a time when the State is looking for some big investments though Monday’s program has nothing to do with exploration of the opportunities in Andhra Pradesh by TATA Group.
Whether Mr. Tata has immediate plans of investing in A.P or he will wait for a right opportunity is likely to be known after his closed-door meeting with select industrialists during his day-long visit.
CII Vijayawada Zone Vice-Chairman G.V. Rao: Mr. Tata‘s visit augurs well for the State. It is clear that he is interested in the potential for development in the fledgling State Kusalava International Limited MD Ch. R.K. Prasad: Mr. Tata’s visit will certainly motivate others to take a serious look at the opportunities offered by A.P. “We are eager to meet him. Hopefully he will contribute for development of the State”
JRD Tata Industrial Estate Chairman V. Ramesh Babu: “We will ask Mr. Tata to tap the potential offered by A.P. “He can consider establishment of an automobile manufacturing unit in the uplands areas of Krishna district”.
