Chandrababu Naidu meets union ministers over stalled projects, old promises

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu met top central leadership, including finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and defence minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday pushing his state-specific demands.

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party provides the much-needed support to BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre, discussed specific proposals with Sitharaman ahead of Budget presentation. According to sources, Naidu is eyeing announcement of a special package for backward districts in the Budget and comprehensive financial support for infrastructure development in the capital city of Amravati.

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During the meeting at North Block, Naidu presented a detailed memorandum outlining the state's urgent financial requirements. He highlighted various ongoing projects in Andhra Pradesh that require central assistance, including the Polavaram irrigation project. Sources indicated that Sitharaman assured Naidu that she would consider Andhra Pradesh's demands within the constraints of the national budget.

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A closer look at the demands raised by Naidu with Prime Minister and central ministers reveals that he wants the Centre to push stalled projects and address legacy issues pertaining to bifurcation of the state. Sources said that these are not really fund-intensive initiatives but need Centre-state coordination. The old demands that Andhra Pradesh has been consistently raising and Naidu broached again include Outer Ring Road project for Amravati (which has been under consideration since 2018), 6/8-laning of Hyderabad to Vishakhapatnam national highway (which has been under consideration since 2019), support of state for development of Dugarajapatnam port (proposal accept by ministry of shipping and ports in 2012), Andhra Pradesh IPS cadre review (pending since 2015), release of Rs 385 crore for Greyhounds training centre (a part installment had been released in 2018).

Naidu has also sought Centre's intervention in complicated issues pertaining to Andhra Pradesh bifurcation.