PM Modi lays foundation stone of 1st Green Hydrogen Hub in Andhra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the country’s first Green Hydrogen Hub Project under the National Green Hydrogen Mission at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on 8 January 2025. The Prime Minister, who was on a visit to Vishakhapatnam, also laid the foundation stone of various projects worth over Rs. 2 lakh crore in the state. 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababau Naidu was also present on the occasion.

The following are the projects whose foundation stone was laid down by the Prime Minister during his visit to Visakhapatnam.

First Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka 

• The first Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam is being set up by NTPC Green Energy Limited.
• The Hub will be India’s largest integrated green hydrogen production facility.
• The Hub will produce 1500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen and 7500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen derivatives like  Green Methanol, Green Urea, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
• Total investment - around Rs 1,85,000 crore.
• The hub will also include establishing 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacities.
• The Green Hydrogen Hub will help in achieving the National Green Hydrogen Mission target of  5 MMT (Million Metric tonnes) per annum of Green Hydrogen and the addition of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
• Green hydrogen refers to the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules through electrolysis. The energy that is needed for electrolysis is produced through a renewable source of energy like water, sun, wind, etc.

Bulk Drug Park at Nakkapalli in Anakapalli District

• The bulk drug facility in the Anakapalli district is one of the three bulk drug parks in the country to be set up for manufacturing bulk drugs in the country to minimise dependence on imports.
• The other bulk drug parks are in Tehsil Haroli, District Una, Himachal Pradesh, and in Tehsil Jambusar and District Bharuch, Gujarat.

Foundation Stone of Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KRIS City)

• The foundation stone of the Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KRIS City) was laid by Prime Minister Modi.
• Kris City is located in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh and is part of the Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. 
• The corridor is a constituent of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
• Kris City is a greenfield industrial smart city.
• It is expected to attract an investment of around Rs 10,500 crore.

South Coast Railway Headquarters at Visakhapatnam

• The proposed South Coast Railway Zone headquarters' foundation stone was laid in Visakhapatnam. 
• In 2019, the Railway Minister announced the setting up of a new Railway Zone in Visakhapatnam, but the Ministry has yet to issue a notification.
• At present, Indian Railways has 17 Zones and 69th division. Jammu is the latest railway division.

Also Read: Railway Zones and New Jammu Division 

Also Read:  National Hydrogen Mission of India 

Also Read: National Industrial Corridor Development Programme