Switzerland-based Stadler Rail AG has expressed interest in setting up its production unit in Andhra Pradesh. The company, which is into rail manufacturing of engines and coaches, is planning to set up its unit in Visakhapatnam, according to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited Zurich on Monday as part of his World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting. He met Stadler Rail AG Executive vice-president Peter Jenelten, business analyst Stefan Rutishauser, and project manager Thomas Zweifel.
Quoting Mr. Jenelten, the CMO said that the Stadler Rail AG has already set up a production unit at Kacharapara in West Bengal, and now plans to establish a spare parts unit at Visakhapatnam. About 3,000 people would get employment if the factory was established at Visakhapatnam.
“We have plans to expand our operations in India and the U.S. We plan to make India the south-east Asian hub for manufacturing rail coaches and locomotives,” the release said.
Metro rail
Mr. Naidu, responding to it, said that the State government had initiated process to start metro rails in two cities in the State. The government would introduce world class high-speed trains also. “Andhra Pradesh has many advantages as Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is representing from the A.P. The State government will provide necessary infrastructural facilities. Vast coastline, power and water supply, rail and road connectivity were some of the features that make A.P. the best place to invest, he said.
At second bilateral meeting with the European Education and Research Council, the representatives of EERC informed Mr. Naidu that they plan to integrate research in educational institutions with manufacturing in factories. Vangapandu Venkatanagaraju from Vijayawada is the founder/chancellor of the EERC.
Trittec Company, which makes mosquito nets and meshes, envisaged interest in setting up of a production unit in A.P. The company representatives informed the Chief Minister that they need 5000 sq metres of land for setting up the production unit and proposes to provide employment to 400 to 500 people. The company plans to export these meshes to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Technical support
BKW Energie AG expressed interest in providing technical support in increasing the efficiency of the Hydel power projects from 3 per cent to 10 per cent. Mr. Naidu pointed out a possible collaboration with the company for the Polavaram project. Stating that A.P. has plans to build 960 Mw Hydel project in Polavaram, Mr. Naidu said he was looking for new Hydel power technologies from the BKW group.
