Land allotted to five companies in Visakhapatnam at concessional rate with projected employment potential of 65,000 jobs, says IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. | Photo credit: File Photo
IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh reiterated that job creation for the youth is among the Andhra Pradesh government’s top priorities, asserting on Thursday that land has been allotted at ₹0.99 per acre to only credible companies to attract investment and build an IT ecosystem in the state.
Answering questions in the Legislative Council, Mr Lokesh said five companies – TCS, Cognizant, ANSR Global, Raheja and Motherson International – have been allotted land at a concessional rate with an estimated employment potential of 65,000 jobs.
“If I have taken more than a cup of coffee from them, prove it and I am ready for any action,” he noted, rejecting allegations of corruption. He claimed that the allocations were approved after scrutiny by official committees, SIPB and Cabinet approval, and argued that such incentives were necessary to compete with other states.
Mr. Lokesh said Visakhapatnam currently lacks Grade A IT office space and the government aims to create 5 lakh IT jobs by 2029, which will lead to significant economic activity.
He cited the growth of Hyderabad under similar policies and Tata Nano in Gujarat as examples of ecosystem-driven development.
However, YSRCP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Council Botcha Satyanarayana, Tummati Madhava Rao and Varudu Kalyani, alleged that valuable land in Visakhapatnam was being given to private and real estate firms without transparency.
They questioned the allotment of 27.1 acres to Raheji and expressed concern over the alleged proposals involving Ursa and other firms. Mr. Satyanarayana accused the government of favoring benamis and not following norms while demanding approval of the pending ‘Thalliki Vandanam’ charges before the end of the budget session.
Amid heated exchanges, YSRCP members staged a walkout as the minister reiterated that politics prioritized jobs over income and challenged the opposition to substantiate its claims.
Published – 12 Feb 2026 21:01 IST