VISAKHAPATNAM: A part of the land identified for German auto major Volkswagen’s Greenfield project in the city is up for grabs.

After a lot of hype, controversy and the inspection of facilities available in the city by a team from Volkswagen AG, the company backed out from its plan of setting up the car project.

The State government has decided to sell away through auction 90 acres of land at Aganampudi abutting the National Highway-5 near Visakhapatnam Steel Plant for those interested in developing an Innovation Park.

After allotting 1,750 acres in Kapulauppada to a Delhi-based firm for developing Knowledge City, the Vizag Innovation Park has been conceived.

The reserve price for 90 acres land is put at Rs.180 crore at the rate of Rs. 2 crore an acre.

After the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority and AP Housing Board, now it seems to be the turn of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to resort to sale of bulk lands in the city.

APIIC Chief General Manager I. Eswara Rao told The Hindu on Thursday that a multi-use complex with world-class infrastructure would come up at the proposed park.

He said technical and price bids were sought separately by May 26 for evaluation.

Only after those who emerge successful in the technical evaluation, their price bids will be opened. Logistic, research and development, housing, hospitality and support infrastructure will be encouraged in the proposed park.

The prospective bidders, including one of the participants in a consortium, should have an experience of three years, built a single infrastructure project of at least 1,00,000 square feet worth Rs. 25 crore and must have an aggregate annual turnover of Rs. 50 crore.

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