VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday to discuss key issues concerning Andhra Pradesh, particularly the funding for the construction of Amaravati, the state's capital city.
During the meeting, Naidu expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the Union government’s decision, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the July Budget, to allocate ₹15,000 crore for Amaravati's development. He also thanked Modi for approving the Revised Cost Estimates for the Polavaram Project and for the Centre’s support in addressing Andhra Pradesh’s fiscal challenges.
Naidu sought the Prime Minister’s assistance on several key matters, including the approval of crucial national highway projects essential for the state's development. Additionally, he requested an increase in LPG cylinder allocations under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) to benefit approximately 60 lakh BPL (Below Poverty Line) families who were previously excluded from the scheme.
The Chief Minister also updated Modi on the state’s Swarnandhra@2047 vision, which aligns with the Centre’s Viksit Bharat @ 2047initiative, aiming to transform Andhra Pradesh into a $2.4 trillion economy with a per capita income of $43,000 by 2047. Modi assured Naidu of full cooperation from the Union government.
Following the meeting, Naidu took to social media platform X, calling the discussion with Modi "fruitful."
Several key figures, including Union Ministers Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, and TDP Parliamentary Chairperson Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, were present at the meeting.
Later in the day, Naidu also met with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, where he pressed for the operationalisation of the South Coast Railway Zone while retaining the Waltair Division to meet the expectations of the people of Visakhapatnam. He also requested the sanction of a new railway line from Visakhapatnam to Amaravati, targeting completion within two years, and the laying of a new line from Machilipatnam to Amaravati to enhance connectivity in the coastal region.
Additionally, Naidu urged improved connectivity between Visakhapatnam and Nellore under the Namo Bharat initiative and stressed the need for a high-speed railway corridor linking Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Amaravati to create an economic quadrilateral. He also called for the modernisation of railway stations across Andhra Pradesh under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
He further requested the approval of a new railway line connecting Narasapur – Machilipatnam – Repalle – Bapatla, with a link to the Kolkata–Chennai trunk line at Bapatla, improving connectivity between Kakinada and Machilipatnam ports. Vaishnaw assured the necessary support.
As Minister Vaishnaw also oversees Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and IT portfolios, Naidu requested the establishment of a National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) in Andhra Pradesh to enhance IT skills and digital literacy. He emphasized that the institute could aid the state in developing a semiconductor industry, attract global companies, and create high-tech jobs.
Naidu also proposed the creation of a Data Embassy in Andhra Pradesh through international collaboration and sought support for the state's startup ecosystem in emerging technologies.
In a post on X, Naidu expressed optimism about the establishment of the South Coast Railway Zone, with Vizag as its headquarters, and hoped the foundation stone would be laid by December.