IT Minister Nara Lokesh conducting a review meeting with the officials and elected representatives at the District Collectorate in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Dismissing YSRCP leaders' allegations on allocation of prime land in the city for a low price to IT giants, Andhra Pradesh Minister of Information Technology Nara Lokesh said on Sunday that "the NDA government is not here to build palaces (referring to Rushikonda constructions) but to bring investments and create job opportunities for the youth."

Addressing the media at the Collectorate, Mr. Lokesh said, "Since coming to power, the NDA government has been actively working to attract investments to Andhra Pradesh. So far, investment agreements worth approximately 120 billion dollars have been signed, with nearly 50% focused on the Greater Visakhapatnam Economic Region."

'Big news soon'

Mr. Lokesh said that the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) would begin its operations in Visakhapatnam in November.

"Cognizant officials are expected to visit the city next month and may lay the foundation stone for their new centre in December. I will be meeting Google officials in the next few days, and there may be a major announcement soon," Mr. Lokesh added.

"Is it wrong to attract investments and bring them to Visakhapatnam? What the YSRCP failed to achieve in five years, we have managed to do in just 16 months," the Minister said, adding that "our goal is to generate at least five lakh jobs in Visakhapatnam over the next five years."

"The CII Partnership Summit, which will be held in Visakhapatnam on November 14 and 15, may be a platform to expect significant investments," he observed.

'Prepare master plan'

Earlier, Mr. Lokesh convened a meeting with the Collectors and elected representatives of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

During the meeting, he directed the authorities and the public representatives to prepare development plans, keeping in view the future. He said a large number of companies were setting up base in Visakhapatnam, and hence, a master plan should be prepared accordingly. He insisted that plans be devised with a 30-year outlook and stressed the need for coordinated discussions between the public representatives and officials. He instructed the officials to identify and prepare suitable land banks for setting up IT parks in the Visakhapatnam region.

IT Secretary K. Bhaskar, Legislative Assembly Whip P.G.V.R. Naidu (Gana Babu), Visakhapatnam Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao, and others were present.

We are not building palaces, but bringing investments, says Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Lokesh