Nizampatnam, emerging from obscurity

Guntur, Apr 12 (UNI) Nizampatnam, an obscure fishing village in this district is poised to emerge as a thriving port city thanks to the interest being evinced by Skoda, a Czecoslavic firm.

Acccording to the memorandum of understanding (mou)signed between Skoda and Andhra Pradesh Government, the Czech firm will construct a major sea port at Nizampatnam, including a harbour, industrial port complex and port city.

The district administrataion has started the process of acquiring 4,500 acre of land required for the project which is expected to generate 10,000 jobs this year.

Presently, tobacco, chillies and cotton exports from Andhra Pradesh are routed through Vizag and Chennai harbours.

In 2004-2005, some 1.60 lakh tonne of tobacco and tobacco products from the state, valued at Rs 1,364 crore, were exported to 75 countries from the Chennai Harbour.

The port will enable exporters to save the transportation cost to the congested Chennai Port.

UNI XR MVB 1835