BHPV), Visakha Dairy, Vizag Profiles, Essar Pellet Plant, Andhra Polymers (now LG Polymers), Andhra Cement, Andhra Petrochemicals and Andhra Ferroalloys. The prevalence of ferroalloy plants is due to the availability of manganese ore near Visakhapatnam. The city is the headquarters for the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway. The division generated Rs. 34,830 million (US$ 634 million) in revenue in 2009–2010, one of the highest-grossing industries in the country.
Visakhapatnam's traditional importance in shipbuilding is demonstrated by the fact that India's first ship (the Jala Usha) was launched there. It is one of India's largest fishing ports, has a dedicated harbour for the fishing industry and handles a large percentage of India's seafood exports.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (the second centre in India, after Mumbai) is completing a permanent facility in Autonagar which will include a school dedicated to nuclear-power technology. Visakhapatnam also has offices of the National Institute of Oceanography and the Indian Meteorological Department.
APIIC has authorised Unitech Limited to construct a Knowledge City on an area of 700 hectares (2.7 sq mi), with an investment of Rs. 350 billion (US$ 6 billion). Although with Unitech Limited being involved in the 2G spectrum scam, the Andhra Pradesh government has scrapped the plan as of June 2012; future course of action is unkwnown.
Business climate
From a small village in the 20th century, Visakhapatnam has grown into an industrial hub. The British needed a suitable port to move mineral wealth from central India. Unlike the western coast, the east coast is devoid of natural harbours. However, Visakhapatnam is protected from the sea on the south by Dolphin's Nose Hill; the Meghadri River estuary formed a channel which made it suitable for a port. Construction on the harbour began in 1927, and in 1933 it
