Andhra Pradesh

Here's what Kamal Haasan has to say about Tamil Nadu theater strike

Jul 032017

Kamal Haasan

Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Monday said Tamil filmdom will speak with ‘one voice’ on the ongoing cinema theaters shutdown in the state following the government’s decision to levy 30 per cent entertainment tax over the newly implemented GST. The Goods and Services Tax came into effect from July 1.

Speaking at the launch of a dubbing studio here on Monday, Kamal Haasan told the media: “The entire industry is gathering together and we shall speak as one voice soon.” Theaters across Tamil Nadu have been shutdown from Monday in protest against the double taxation.

On June 30, Abirami Ramanathan, President of the Tamil Nadu Film Chamber of Commerce, said the government should fall in line with the other southern states’ tax slab. While a Rs 100 ticket in the neighbouring states (Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka) would cost Rs 118 post-GST, it would cost Rs 148 in Tamil Nadu, thanks to the government’s additional 30 per cent state tax on the ticket.

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Rail fares to go up next year: Minister

Economy

Dec 162012

The author has posted comments on this articlePTI | Dec 16, 2012, 07.51PM IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: Train fares might go up next year as an increase has become necessary to meet the financial situation of the Railways which was “not sound”, minister of state for Railways Kotla Suryaprakasha Reddy said.

“It is necessary to increase the train fares as the financial position of the Railways is not sound. It is essential to raise the fares to take up developmental activities and provide amenities to commuters,” he said.

Reddy was addressing a gathering after flagging off Visakhapatnam-Chennai and Visakhapatnam-Shirdi weekly express trains here yesterday.

He said commuters should appreciate this fact. Later, talking to reporters at Rajahmundry, Reddy said there was a proposal to increase the rail fares in the next railway budget.

He also said Indian trains were the cheapest transport facility in the world and at the same time the number of mishaps on the tracks was very low.

Rs 25,000 crore worth railway projects were pending in Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding, it would take some time to clear them because of financial constraints.

Projects of over Rs 1L cr coming up in Andhra

Economy

Dec 152012

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Dec 15, 2012, 07.05PM IST
HYDERABAD: As many as 73 industrial projects involving an investment of Rs.1,20,928 crore are currently under implementation in Andhra Pradesh while another 32 projects of Rs.1,47,325 crore are at an initial stage, a minister said Saturday.

These were among 115 proposals in the industrial sector for which the state government had signed MoUs with the industries during Partnership Summit early this year.

Major Industries Minister J.Geeta Reddy told a news conference here that 10 projects with an investment of Rs.3,126 crore had already commenced work.

“There was no progress on four projects (Rs.23,324 crore) and we may cancel the agreements,” she said after a meeting with officials and industrialists to review the progress of various projects.

During the Partnership Summit, the state received 243 proposals involving an investment of Rs.6,49,432 crore in various sectors.

The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) at its three meetings since February last year cleared 69 mega projects involving an investment of Rs.1,33,343 crore. Out of them, 21 projects have commenced production, four are ready for production and 40 are under implementation.

Geeta Reddy said despite being a late starter, the state made rapid strides in the industrial sector and has been growing at a rate higher than the national average since 2007-08.

She pointed out that the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) ranked Andhra Pradesh third after Gujarat and Maharashtra in attracting industrial investment.

Admitting that the state is facing electricity and natural gas shortage, she said all the states were facing it and claimed that all steps are being taken to improve the situation.

She hoped that the state would overcome the crisis and the natural gas would be available with the commissioning of floating Re-gassified Liquified Natural Gas (RLNG) terminal at Kakinada next year.

Earlier, the developers of few mega projects told the minister that they were waiting for the allotment of natural gas, land, other clearances and incentives from the various government bodies.

The mega projects, the progress of which reviewed Saturday include Rs.7,578 crore urea fertiliser plant by VBC Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited. The plant with a capacity of 4,400 metric tones per day (MTPD) ammonia and 7,700 MTPD urea is coming up in Krishna district. The project will have captive power generation of 2×67.5 MW.

The central chemicals and fertilizers ministry has already recommended to the petroleum and natural gas ministry to allocate 5 MMSCMD (million metric standard cubic metres per day). The company last week signed a MoU with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) for gas.

VBC is waiting for the state government to allot 493 acres of land for the project, which is expected to be completed in three years.

Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited proposes to set up DAP/complex fertilizer plant with an investment of Rs.1,800 crore in two phases near Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district. The plant to come up on 295 acres of land will have a capacity of 4,000 MTPD.

Sentini Infras (P) Ltd is setting up a glass containers and float glass manufacturing unit in West Godavari district with an investment of Rs.600 crore. The company has requested GAIL to allocate 2 MMSCMD.