AP Government allots 350 acres in Amaravati to private institutes.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who had earlier repeatedly criticised the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s policy of allotting prime lands to corporates at throw away prices, now appears to be following the similar model to attract private institutes to Amaravati.

Giving credence to this, the state government has decided to allocate 150 acres of land to Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUIH) and another 200 acres of land to Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in the new capital region at Rs. 50 lakh per acre on 'freehold' basis.

On Monday, the state government cleared a proposal to allot 455 acres of land in Amaravati to six organisations including these two firms. The other four organisations, which were allotted land include AP Human Resources Development Institute, Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams and Central Institute of Tool Design.

With regard to allotment of land to Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUIH), AP government has decided to allocate 150 acres to the institute at Rs. 50 lakh per acre in two phases. Fifty acres will be allocated in the first phase and the remaining 100 acres in next.

In lieu of the land, the institute will have to offer 20 per cent beds of the hospital free of cost to the under-privileged in Amaravati. It will have to partner with Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the capital region to help improve their operations and quality of services. It should also provide ambulance services in region.

“Non-financial and non-commercial agreements will be made between IUHI, Kings College and BICAP, an Indian origin doctors’ association,” officials said.

With regard to VIT, 200 acres would be given in two phases at `50 lakh per acre. Hundred acres in Phase 1 and another 100 acres in Phase 2.

“Amaravati is proposed as a national hub for high-value non-polluting manufacturing and services sectors. Given the ambitious scale of vision, it is imperative that Amaravati actively encourages such job creators to establish presence here,” an order issued in this regard stated.

“Education and healthcare are two sectors which have a dual benefit of not only triggering direct jobs and population growth but also attracting other industries by providing a local talent pool and families by providing high quality social infrastructure and livability. It is the endeavour of the government to bring in the top institutions in education and healthcare to Amaravati,” the order added.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS