PM to lay foundation stone of NTPC-BHEL power plant in Tirupati

New Delhi, Sep 1 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will visit Tirupati to lay foundation stone for the NTPC-BHEL power plant manufacturing project at Mannavaram near Srikalahasthi in Chittoor District on Wednesday.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the Tirupati International Airport.

During his day-long visit, he will offer worship to Lord Sri Venkateswara, at Tirumala.

The BHEL-NTPC joint venture project to manufacture power plant equipment at an estimated cost of about Rs 6,000 is the first public sector investment after the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant set up in 1979.

Expected to commence production in 3 to 4 years, the project will provide direct employment to about 6000 people while over 30 thousand are to get indirect employment.

The Mannavaram project is expected to indigenizing the power generation equipment which is being largely being imported at present by the public sector including BHEL and NTPC.

The Tirupati International airport is being upgraded into an International one by constructing a new integrated terminal at a cost of about Rs 300 crore.

The state Government has allocated over 700 acres of land for the project. (ANI)