On January 17, 2026, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the state government is preparing to develop a satellite launching facility on Hope Island in Kakinada Bay. This initiative is part of the larger Space City project. Hope Island lies in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in the Godavari estuary, over 600 km from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota. At an event marking the ‘bhumi puja’ for the Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia Production Complex in Kakinada, Mr. Naidu said, "Soon, we (Andhra Pradesh) will launch satellites from the Hope Island. It will come soon, and Kakinada will have a lot of advantages in the field of technology and innovation." He mentioned that the Greenko Group showed interest in the Space City project. "The Greenko Group is evincing interest in being a part of the State government’s Space City project that includes developing satellite launching facility. In a recent interaction, Greenko Founder and Group CEO Anil Kumar Chalamalsetty has shown interest in the Space City project on the Hope Island," said Mr. Naidu. He added, "Kakinada will go to the next level with innovations and technologies when the Space City project commences." Hope Island is an 18-km-long natural landform created by sediment deposits from the Godavari river. It acts as a natural barrier against calamities and aids safe navigation for Kakinada Anchorage Port and Deep-Sea Port. The island is home to fisherfolk and serves as a winter habitat for 42 bird species and a breeding ground for Olive Ridley turtles. Opposite Hope Island on land is the base of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).