Kadapa sees industrial boom with Dalmia Cements expansion
Kadapa district, considered the backward pocket of the Rayalaseema region, has been on a roll in recent times with back-to-back industrial development. Within a fortnight
Kadapa district, considered the backward pocket of the Rayalaseema region, has been on a roll in recent times with back-to-back industrial development. Within a fortnight of the inauguration of the JSW Rayalaseema Steel Plant by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the district is gearing up for the mega expansion of the Dalmia Cements plant, with an estimated outlay of ₹3,478 crore. Minister of Information Technology and Education Nara Lokesh will lay the foundation stone for the plant at Chinnakommerla village in Mylavaram mandal of the Jammalamadugu constituency on Wednesday (July 15, 2026). “Kadapa district has always been known as a hub of cement production, with an annual production capacity of 16 million tonnes, contributed collectively by several major cement companies,” said Collector Sridhar Cherukuri.
The State government stated that the project reflects the increasing industrial investment in Rayalaseema, where major renewable energy and manufacturing projects are being established, according to a press release on Tuesday (July 14). The district is also gaining traction across the country as Andhra Pradesh’s energy cluster, as it is home to several solar, wind, and pumped storage projects. Earlier this year, on May 22, Mr. Lokesh inaugurated SAEL’s 600 MW solar plant at Kondapuram in the same constituency. In a release, the government stated that the Dalmia Cements plant is currently producing 2.5 million tonnes of clinker and 3.6 million tonnes of cement per annum.
With the expansion of line-2, production will increase to 6.1 million tonnes of clinker and 9.6 million tonnes of cement. As part of its green initiatives, this plant will source 80% of its energy requirements from renewable sources. Additionally, 33% of the plant premises will be maintained as a green belt to ensure biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, wastewater will be recycled to implement a “Zero Liquid Discharge” system. The plant currently provides direct and indirect employment to around 950 people. The expansion is expected to create an additional 700 jobs, bringing total employment to 1,650. The government stated that the project would also boost ancillary industries and generate further indirect employment.
“The project is also expected to open up new opportunities in the form of allied industries in its vicinity, further benefiting the local youth,” said TDP zonal coordinator R. Srinivasa Reddy. Dalmia Bharat’s annual contribution to the State through taxes and mining royalties is expected to increase from around ₹102 crore to nearly ₹325 crore after the expansion, the release added.
The BriefWire