Andhra Pradesh Cabinet to allot 21 acres to TCS for 99 paisa as Nara Lokesh takes leaf out of Modi playbook

In a move to attract major IT investments, the Andhra Pradesh government has allotted 21.16 acres of land in Visakhapatnam to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a symbolic price of just 99 paisa, and would likely to clear the proposal in a cabinet meeting on April 15.

The allotment is part of the state’s efforts to position Vizag as a key technology hub. IT Minister Nara Lokesh had first pitched the idea to TCS during a visit to Tata headquarters in Mumbai in October 2024, urging the tech major to consider Andhra Pradesh for its next large-scale development center.

Over the following months, the state government held continuous discussions with TCS, ultimately leading to Monday’s cabinet approval. The move, officials say, is designed to send a strong message to the industry: Andhra Pradesh is open and competitive when it comes to attracting top-tier technology investments.

The decision also draws comparisons to a well-known industrial playbook, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, famously allotted land to Tata Motors in Sanand for 99 paisa, a move credited with catalyzing the state’s automotive sector.