The chief minister also said that he had requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and officially recognise Amaravati as the state capital.
Published May 24, 2025 | 12:50 PM ⚊ Updated May 24, 2025 | 12:50 PM
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu meets Union Minister CR Paatil. (X)
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu sought Centre’s support for the ₹80,000 crore Polavaram–Banakacharla river-linking project and legal recognition of Amaravati as capital. He proposed defence, aerospace, and green energy projects, aiming to make Andhra Pradesh a Green Energy and Industrial Hub. Naidu emphasized rebuilding the state after past misgovernance, securing positive responses from multiple Union Ministers.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, 23 May, sought centre’s hand-holding for the Polavaram-Banakchalra Godavari-Penna river linking project.
The chief minister, who called on Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil at Delhi, apprised him of the project which costs a whopping ₹80,000 crore. The project is meant for diverting 200 TMCFT water without affecting the interests of any other state.
Speaking to media persons at Delhi, he said: “Telangana too is building projects on the Godavari. Over the past 100 years, 2,000 TMCFT water flowed into the sea. Our plan is to redirect 200 TMC of this surplus to drought-prone areas through this project, to be initiated after central approval. The work on the Polavaram–Banakacharla link project will begin as soon as central approval is received.”
Naidu added, “We are also committed to completing Polavaram by 2027 and dedicating it to the nation. We will not compromise on speed or quality.” The diaphragm wall, previously damaged by the former government, is being rebuilt at a cost of ₹980 crore, he said.
The chief minister also said that he had requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and officially recognise Amaravati as the state capital.
Naidu further announced plans to establish electronics manufacturing industries in the Lepakshi–Orvakal region and requested the Centre to allocate aerospace projects to Andhra Pradesh.
He remarked that it would take a decade to undo the damage caused by the previous government and rebuild the state, “The former regime left unpaid bills amounting to ₹1.2 lakh crore.”
The chief minister said he had met seven Union Ministers and sought help to which the they had readily agreed. “I met Union Minister for Renewable Energy Prahalad Joshi and apprised him of the AP Integrated Clean Energy Policy,” said CM Naidu. “Under this policy, the state aims to produce 72 GW of green energy. We requested a ₹28,346 crore green energy corridor project, to which the minister responded positively.”
He also sought support for the Surya Ghar initiative, requesting solar rooftop facilities for 35 lakh households across the state—10,000 homes per constituency. The Union government has already approved 2,000 MW under the KUSUM scheme. Chief minister stated that Andhra Pradesh is set to become a Green Energy Hub, enabling 24×7 power supply through renewable energy.
Further in a representation to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, chief minister proposed converting 6,000 acres in the Jaggayyapeta–Dolakonda cluster into a missile and ammunition protection centre. In the Sriharikota region, a 2,000-acre cluster is proposed for private satellite manufacturing and launch facilities.
Naidu proposed centres for military and civil aircraft, and electronics manufacturing in the Lepakshi–Madakasira cluster.
In Visakhapatnam–Anakapalli, naval experimentation hubs are planned, and in Kurnool–Orvakal, military drones, robotics, and advanced defence components manufacturing. He also proposed a DRDO Centre of Excellence at IIT Tirupati. Rajnath Singh responded positively to these proposals, the chief minister said.
During a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and 24 states on law and order, Naidu sought an amendment of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014, to designate Amaravati as the capital. “The previous government’s ill-conceived three-capitals proposal played with the future of the people. At the request of local farmers, we asked the Centre to legally recognize Amaravati as the capital.” He also raised the issue of RDT (Rural Development Trust) during the meeting.
The chief minister also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and explained the state’s financial situation. He requested additional funding under the Purvodaya scheme and support for the Polavaram–Banakacharla project. He noted that the finance minister responded positively.
The chief minister said: “It will take 10 years to recover from the damage inflicted over the last five years. The NDA government is fulfilling its promise of rebuilding the state. Every sector has been damaged, and the state was left in a dire financial condition. We are moving forward with a focus on development and welfare for the people who delivered us a historic mandate.”
He referred to the ongoing work on Amaravati, Polavaram, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, and the Railway Zone, and said large-scale investments are coming into the state. “We will ensure justice for the 29,000 farmers who gave 34,000 acres for the capital. Despite many conspiracies, Amaravati remains intact.”
“Recently, I visited Terminal 2 of Bengaluru Airport. It’s impressive—but we aim to build an even better airport in Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
