Andhra Pradesh to Modernise Four Government ITIs With NAMTECH Expertise

Four government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the Visakhapatnam cluster are set for an upgrade under the PM-SETU scheme, with an approved investment of ₹200 crore. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) will lead the project with academic and technical partner New Age Makers’ Institute of Technology (NAMTECH).

The Centre, Andhra Pradesh government and AM/NS India signed a shareholders’ agreement on October 12, 2026, to move the approved plan towards implementation. The partnership is intended to bring industry experience into vocational training, with upgrades planned for workshops and laboratories, new industry-relevant trades, updated curricula, instructor development and more hands-on learning.

What the Visakhapatnam ITI upgrade includes

AM/NS India is expected to contribute manufacturing expertise and industry insight. NAMTECH will support curriculum enhancement, training delivery reforms, faculty development and academic innovation. The aim is to make training more closely connected to the skills employers need, particularly in manufacturing and related industries. The agreement sets the framework for this work; the upgrades are planned and should not be described as already completed.

The project is part of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU), a national programme designed to modernise government ITIs through industry partnerships. Under the agreement, a special purpose vehicle will manage the cluster’s upgrading and operations. AM/NS India will hold 51% of the entity, while the Centre and Andhra Pradesh government will each hold 24.5%.

The Visakhapatnam project is one of two AM/NS India-led cluster agreements announced on October 12. The other covers five government ITIs in Surat, Gujarat. Together, the clusters have an approved investment of about ₹440 crore: ₹200 crore for Visakhapatnam and ₹240 crore for Surat. The separate figures matter for students and families following the Andhra Pradesh project; the full ₹440 crore does not apply to the state’s four ITIs alone.

Why industry-linked ITI training matters

ITIs prepare students for technical trades and practical roles. Modern equipment, current course content and training that reflects workplace conditions can help graduates build skills they can demonstrate to employers. Instructor training is also part of the plan, since new tools and technologies require teachers to keep pace with changing industrial processes.

The project’s impact will depend on how the plan is carried out: which trades and technologies are introduced, how the workshops are equipped, and whether trainees receive sustained practical experience. The agreement marks a step toward implementation, while measurable results will depend on delivery and future reporting.

PM-SETU Visakhapatnam ITI project timeline

• May 30, 2026: The National Steering Committee approved the Visakhapatnam cluster’s Strategic Investment Plan—the first plan approved under PM-SETU.
• October 12, 2026: The Centre, Andhra Pradesh government and AM/NS India signed the shareholders’ agreement for the four-ITI cluster.
• Next implementation step: Establish the special purpose vehicle to manage the planned upgrades and operations.