HYDERABAD: PepsiCo India today commissioned first phase of its largest beverage plant in the country in Sri City The plant will manufacture a range of beverages, including fruit juice-based drinks, carbonated soft drinks, and sports drinks. When fully operational it will have nine production lines, the first of which was commenced today."The plant will entail a previously announced total investment of over Rs 1,200 crore, a re-enforcement of PepsiCo's long-term commitment to India," Indra Nooyi , Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo said.The plant was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu "Operationalisation of this plant has begun a fresh chapter in the industrial journey of the state. The fact that this plant will generate employment opportunities for thousands, provides a much needed impetus to economic growth and development of the state. For more than 25 years, PepsiCo has been investing in the Indian economy and its people," Nooyi said.The state-of-the-art plant will also be company's most water efficient plant in the country, she said."We are extremely delighted to be the host to PepsiCo's state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the country," Naidu said.PepsiCo, in a statement, said nearly a quarter of all employees of its Sri City facility will be women, making it one of the most gender diverse plants in India.