VIJAYAWADA: The state govt has allotted land to LuLu Group in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam for setting up of mega shopping malls. The land was allotted through Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) on lease basis for a period of 99 years. The govt also allocated 532 acres to Laurus Labs for a pharma park.
Laurus Labs informed the bourses that it has been allotted land at Rambilli Phase-II in Anakapalli district for the setting up of Laurus Pharma Zone that will house manufacturing units for pharma products. The company plans to invest Rs 5,630 crore in the project that is slated to provide employment to 6,350 people in three phases over an eight-year period.
LuLu Group earlier expressed interest in setting up a mall in Visakhapatnam and the land was allotted to it by the previous TDP govt. However, the land allotment was cancelled by the subsequent YSRCP govt. LuLu has been given the same land where the original proposal was made to construct the mall. The 13.74 acres allotted to LuLu along the beach road will see the construction of a mega shopping mall in a 13.5 lakh sq ft built-up space. The project has been recognised as a special project with three-year lease exemption and land allotment will be done as per the state’s tourism policy. The govt has directed the revenue dept and APIIC to resolve all court cases.In Vijayawada, 4.15 acres of land available with Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) at old bus station has been allocated to LuLu Group for the construction of an integrated shopping mall with 2.23 lakh sq ft built-up space. The govt has directed the NTR district collector to look for alternative lands to relocate APSRTC installations and to compensate the corporation with the land that it is losing. Left parties and worker unions are opposing this move as it was in prime location.
LuLu Group chairman MA Yousuff Ali said the mega shopping mall will generate over 7,000 jobs and contribute significantly to the economic development of North Andhra region.
Meanwhile, retired IAS officer EAS Sharma has written a letter to chief secretary K Vijayanand, stating that allotting valuable land at low price to a private company is against the law and Supreme Court orders. He also claimed the land allotted to LuLu Group comes under CRZ limits. “The govt should not allot lands to private companies at its will. It should take 10% above the market rate if the land is to be allotted for the benefit of the public. The allotment should be investigated by the CBI,” Sarma demanded.
