The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is set to establish a 3,000-acre R&D hub in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, to advance India’s nuclear research and energy security goals.
India Nuclear Expansion: BARC 3,000-Acre R&D Site in Anakapalli
TheInterviewTimes.com | December 14, 2025, 20:43 IST: The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is set to establish a sprawling 3,000-acre research and development campus in Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, marking one of India’s most significant expansions in nuclear science infrastructure. The project will serve as a strategic research hub dedicated to advancing clean energy, nuclear technology innovation, and national energy security.
According to official documents, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recently granted in-principle approval for diverting 148.15 hectares of forest land required for the facility near Visakhapatnam. BARC has already secured over 1,200 hectares of non-forest land for the project, with additional land allocated to develop security and support infrastructure such as compound walls, zonal fencing, patrolling roads, and service networks.
Strategic Research Mandate
The upcoming BARC campus will focus on nuclear research relevant to energy generation, hydrogen production, agriculture, health, and water management—fields critical to India’s long-term strategic and developmental objectives. The facility will also feature a 5-megawatt thermal high-temperature gas-cooled reactor designed to support hydrogen generation under the government’s small modular reactor (SMR) program.
“The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is setting up a new campus on the east coast for strategic reasons,” stated the EAC minutes. “Site selection was made based on the recommendations of the Site Selection Committee and the subsequent approval of the Atomic Energy Commission.”
Environmental Considerations
The planned R&D hub will impact a limited portion of the existing forest cover. As per the environmental assessment, approximately 1,722 trees will be felled out of a total of 21,244 within the project region, with the remaining vegetation—especially near coastal ecosystems—carefully preserved. Authorities asserted that this limited environmental impact “will not significantly alter the general ecosystem,” emphasizing the project’s long-term value for sustainable innovation.
A senior official from the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department confirmed that the state government approved the transfer of forest land to BARC only after “thorough scrutiny of environmental and strategic factors.”
A Boost to India’s Nuclear Ambitions
The development of this hub aligns closely with India’s expanding nuclear energy roadmap. The central government has targeted 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047 as part of its clean energy transition. To support this, the ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, underscores a focused drive toward next-generation nuclear technologies, particularly small modular and hydrogen-producing reactors.
India’s current nuclear capacity stands at 8,180 megawatts, with expansion projects underway to reach 22,480 megawatts by 2031-32. The new BARC campus in Andhra Pradesh will play a vital role in achieving these milestones by serving as a hub for research, design, and prototype development.
National and Regional Impact
The BARC hub is expected to significantly boost high-tech employment in southern India, spur local infrastructure growth, and strengthen India’s global standing in peaceful nuclear technology. Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister has lauded the initiative as “a transformative project that strengthens both India’s scientific prowess and the state’s research ecosystem.”
By combining cutting-edge research with strategic innovation, the new BARC campus in Anakapalli symbolizes India’s determination to lead in sustainable nuclear energy, technological advancement, and national self-reliance.
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