Decade on, proposal for NIPER-Vizag gathers dust

It was in 2016 that Andhra Pradesh, still reeling from the loss of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Hyderabad to the new State of Telangana, was promised a branch of the premier institute in Visakhapatnam by the then Union Minister Ananth Kumar during a partnership summit.

It was a grand project, sprawling 100 acres and costing ₹600 crore, but even as 2026 approaches, the proposal remains on paper. According to a source in the pharmaceutical industry, the project faced delays owing to weak political pressure from the government and lack of initiative.

Seven key cities across the country are home to NIPER, which is under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. These are: Mohali (Punjab), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Guwahati (Assam), Hajipur (Bihar), Hyderabad (Telangana), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh).

In August this year, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat requested Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to review the project file of NIPER-Visakhapatnam for further action, during discussions on key initiatives aimed at enhancing Visakhapatnam’s pharmaceutical education, research capabilities and healthcare infrastructure.

During the meeting, he highlighted that the city is a major pharmaceutical hub with over 200 manufacturing units, including leading companies like Dr. Reddy’s, Aurobindo Pharma and Divis. The presence of NIPER will significantly enhance industry-academia collaborations, promote cutting-edge research and create significant employment opportunities. Sources, however, said that no progress has been made as of Sunday (December 7).

Andhra Pradesh ranks third in the country in exports of pharmaceutical products after Gujarat (first) and Telangana (second). It exported products worth ₹11,390 crore (about $1.37 billion) to over 80 countries in 2023-24, and focuses on quality (WHO-GMP) and strategic alliances. Moreover, there is sufficient land available near Pharma City in Parawada in Anakapalli district for establishing the institute, according to sources.

Vizag Development Council vice-chairperson O. Naresh Kumar said: “It has been a decade since NIPER was announced in Visakhapatnam in 2016. But, there has been no progress so far. A new pharma park is coming up in Anakapalli district, and an NIPER will boost the entire ecosystem.”