New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and urged the Centre to grant legal status to Amaravati as the state capital. During his Delhi visit, he submitted a detailed memorandum and pressed for faster approvals on key development proposals. He also held meetings with seven Union Ministers to secure funds and policy support for irrigation, agriculture, railways, and urban projects.
Naidu explained that formal legal recognition for Amaravati would remove uncertainty and speed up infrastructure works. He said a clear framework would boost investor confidence and strengthen administrative stability. Therefore, he requested the Union Home Ministry to take an early decision.
Financial Support and Agriculture Push
In his meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Chief Minister sought financial assistance under the Purvodaya scheme. He proposed transforming Rayalaseema into a horticulture hub and asked for the release of the Centre’s share in pending centrally sponsored schemes.
Later, while meeting Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Naidu proposed setting up a Makhana Development Board in Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted that the Kolleru region has favourable conditions for makhana cultivation. As a result, nearly 50,000 acres could come under cultivation in phases.
He further sought ₹216 crore under the PM-PRANAM scheme, stating that Andhra Pradesh reduced chemical fertiliser usage last year. In addition, he requested ₹200 crore to promote coconut cultivation. The Chief Minister also proposed a coconut processing park and modern tender coconut markets similar to those in Karnataka. To strengthen farmer income, he asked for advanced training facilities and nursery expansion. Meanwhile, he urged the release of ₹695 crore pending under the “One Drop More Crop” scheme. He also requested ₹100 crore under the Price Deficiency Payment System for Totapuri mango farmers for the 2025–26 season.
Irrigation and Water Disputes
During discussions with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Naidu sought ₹32,000 crore for land acquisition and rehabilitation under Phase II of the Polavaram project. He emphasised that timely funding would prevent delays.
The Chief Minister also pushed for approval of the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar link project to divert Godavari floodwaters to drought-prone regions. Besides that, he requested the publication of the final report of the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal. He urged the Centre to constitute the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal to address long-pending inter-state concerns.
Raising another issue, Naidu strongly objected to Karnataka’s proposal to increase the height of the Almatti Dam. He warned that such a move could severely affect downstream water availability for Andhra Pradesh farmers.
Railways, Urban Development and Industry
On the railway front, the Chief Minister met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and proposed dedicated freight corridors linking North and South India. He suggested an Itarsi–Vijayawada corridor and an East Coast Freight Corridor between Kharagpur and Chennai via Vijayawada. Additionally, he sought approval for new railway lines to improve connectivity in Rayalaseema and tribal regions.
He requested a Gazette notification to operationalise the South Coast Railway Zone from April 1. He also proposed high-speed rail between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada and semi-high-speed connectivity between Vijayawada and Kurnool. Improved rail access to Srisailam and a Vande Bharat service between Vijayawada and Bengaluru via Tirupati were also part of his proposals.
In his meeting with Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh aims to become a Zero Landfill State under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0. For this purpose, the state prepared an action plan costing ₹276 crore and sought ₹105 crore as the Centre’s share.
Later, the Chief Minister met Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and thanked the Centre for announcing a special financial package for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He said the plant now operates at full capacity and has returned to profitability. According to him, coordinated efforts by the Centre, the state government, and plant workers made the turnaround possible. He also sought continued support to strengthen RINL in the coming years.
Union Ministers, MPs, and senior officials accompanied the Chief Minister during his Delhi meetings.
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