Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu celebrated Deepavali along with children at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada on Sunday evening. He stated that Andhra Pradesh should be developed as a hub for Artificial Intelligence. He mentioned that the proposed Google AI Data Centre in Visakhapatnam will offer services not just for Indian users but to several countries as well.
Participating in Deepavali celebrations at Punnami Ghat on the banks of the Krishna River in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister emphasised that Andhra Pradesh needs a stable government at this juncture. He asserted that the NDA government successfully stabilised the State’s finances within 16 months after taking charge and is implementing several welfare schemes under the ‘Super Six’.
Naidu said that the State government released one DA to government employees, granted one earned leave to police personnel, and also gave promotions to RTC staff.
He noted that the State and Union governments organised the GST Utsav from Dasara to Deepavali. He claimed that every family is benefiting by approximately ₹15,000 per annum due to the next-gen GST reforms.
Furthermore, Naidu affirmed that the development of Amaravati as the capital is progressing rapidly. The Chief Minister added that the Polavaram project will be completed by June or December 2027. He asserted that GST reforms benefit both consumers and traders. He also reiterated the State government’s commitment to improving people’s living standards through the P-4 programme.
Later, Naidu inaugurated Deepavali celebrations along with children at Punnami Ghat, accompanied by his wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari.
Naidu interacts with traders at Besant Road
Earlier, Naidu visited Besant Road in Vijayawada and interacted with the public regarding price reductions following GST reforms. He also spoke with traders about price variations post-reform. He engaged with petty traders, including women vendors, and inquired about their earnings during the festive season.
Among those he interacted with were street vendor Ch Durga Rao, who sells jute bags, and Ch V Krishna Rao, who sells chappals. He asked about the price reduction in chappals due to GST. He also spoke with G Lakshmi, a salesgirl at a clothing shop, and B Srinivas, a provision shopkeeper. Street vendors eagerly competed to take selfies with the Chief Minister.
