Page 2 - Andhra Pradesh Government

Andhra, Gates Foundation partnership will reshape Andhra's future: CM Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that the partnership with Gates Foundation will transform the state's development. Addressing a meeting with Microsoft founder Bill Gates in the presence of ministers and senior officials at the secretariat here, the chief minister expressed happiness over the Gates Foundation extending cooperation for various projects in the southern state. Naidu also gave a presentation on Swarna Andhra 2047 (golden Andhra) vision, government policies and programmes. "Today, at the Secretariat in Amaravati, I presented my vision for Swarna Andhra 2047, where our ministers and secretaries also interacted with him (Gates). We discussed our priority sectors and explored avenues for collaboration with the Gates Foundation to empower our people and enhance their quality of life," Naidu said in a post on 'X'. Calling Gates' visit to the greenfield capital city of Amaravati "historic", he said it will give a shot in the arm for the ...

Andhra CM Naidu, Bill Gates meet at state secretariat in Amaravati

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will visit Andhra Pradesh on Monday and hold discussions with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on expanding cooperation in health and artificial intelligence initiatives. Gates will arrive at the state secretariat here in the morning and meet with CM Naidu, IT Minister Nara Lokesh and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan briefly. "Gates will visit Amaravati and hold discussions with Naidu on expanding cooperation in health and artificial intelligence initiatives," state Municipal Minister P Narayana said on Sunday. The CM has requested Gates to expand ongoing health initiatives across the state and discussions will focus on AI as well, he said. The Gates Foundation has already been working in Kuppam in Chittoor district on health-related projects, and the talks are expected to explore scaling up these interventions to benefit a wider population across the southern state. Later, Gates will proceed to Real Time Governance System (RTGS) to observe the ...

AP Budget 2026: ₹53,915 cr for public capex highest in state's history

The government has positioned infrastructure as a multiplier for private investment, job creation and long-term productivity growth, moving beyond consumption-led spending towards asset creation

Welfare, development push: Andhra presents ₹3.32 trn budget for 2026-27

Balancing welfare and development, Andhra Pradesh on Saturday presented a Budget of over Rs 3.32 lakh crore for 202627, with an estimated revenue expenditure of Rs 2.56 lakh crore and capital expenditure of nearly Rs 54,000 crore. While presenting the Budget in the state assembly, Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav said the estimated revenue deficit would be around Rs 22,000 crore (1.11 per cent of the GSDP) and the fiscal deficit is pegged at nearly 76,000 crore (3.84 per cent of the GSDP). The budget proposed Rs 51,021 crore for the BC component, while School Education gets Rs 32,308 crore. The Budget allocated Rs 19,306 crore for Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department. The Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Department, held by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan gets nearly Rs 23,000 crore. In his speech, Keshav said a short span of two years is certainly not enough to rebuild a state which has faced catastrophic events since its inception. First, the irrational ...

Andhra govt exempts ₹20 crore stamp duty, fees for BPCL refinery project

The Andhra Pradesh government has exempted stamp duty and registration fees amounting to over Rs 20 crore in favour of BPCL to facilitate the setting up of a greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex near Ramayapatnam Port in Nellore district. G Sai Prasad, special chief secretary (FAC), Revenue (Registration. II) Department said the exemption pertains to the transfer of over 600 acres of land in Chevuru village, Gudluru mandal of Nellore district from Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB) to Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) and in turn from APIIC to BPCL. "Government after careful examination of the matter, has decided to exempt the stamp duty for an amount of Rs 17.6 crore and registration fee (including transfer duty) for an amount of Rs 2.7 crore for transfer of land to an extent of 600.4 acres, out of 6,000 acres from APMB to APIIC and in turn from APIIC to BPCL," said Prasad in a government order (GO) on Monday. More than a year ago, the Andhra .

Andhra launches Amaravati Quantum Valley to power global-scale innovation

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the Amaravati Quantum Valley here to position the state as a global hub for quantum research, cutting-edge innovation, talent development and deep industry collaboration. Accompanied by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, the CM laid the foundation stone for the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) at Uddandarayunipalem village, according to visuals shared by the state government. The ceremony also featured a series of launches and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs), showing strong collaboration among industry, academia, and the government. "Amaravati Quantum Valley should emerge as a hub for research and innovation. Andhra has positioned itself as a promoter of frontier technologies and is committed to creating conditions that attract global-scale investment and innovation," Naidu earlier said. Its focus areas include quantum ...

Maruti partners with Andhra govt to set up 4 automated driving test tracks

Maruti Suzuki India on Friday said it has inked a pact with Andhra Pradesh government for the setting up and maintenance of four automated driving test tracks across the state. The tracks will be set up at four Regional Transport Office (RTO) locations in the state, namely Eluru, Ongole, Vizianagaram, and Anakapalli. Under the MoA, the car major will automate and maintain these driving test tracks for a period of three years from the date of commissioning. "Aligned with his vision for technology-led solutions, we are honoured to bring 4 Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) to the state of Andhra Pradesh,"Maruti Suzuki India MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said in a statement. ADTTs use advanced technology that ensure a comprehensive, efficient, and transparent process with zero human intervention, he added. This guarantees that only skilled drivers are awarded a driving license, thereby improving overall road safety, Takeuchi noted. "The automation of driving test tracks is expected

Andhra Pradesh studies Australia-like social media ban for U-16 children

The exposure of children to social media in India has increased rapidly due to cheaper smartphones and wider internet access, including in rural areas

RMZ partners with AP govt to facilitate investments up to $10 billion

RMZ will invest up to $10 billion in Andhra Pradesh over 5-6 years to build GCCs, hyperscale data centres and industrial parks across Visakhapatnam and Rayalaseema

Centre recommends PPP model to boost healthcare services in Andhra

The Centre urged the Andhra Pradesh government to adopt a public-private partnership model to modernise its healthcare system. In a letter to State Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, the Ministry of Health highlighted that collaborating with the private sector is the fastest way to bridge gaps in medical demand and expand service delivery across the state. The Centre urged Andhra Pradesh to extensively adopt the PPP model to accelerate healthcare expansion and improve availability, quality, and efficiency of services, said an official release on Wednesday. The Ministry suggested implementing PPP in rural and semi-urban areas, focussing on nuclear medicine, mobile units, dental clinics, radiology services, and cancer day care centres. It proposed an approach where private partners are engaged for 5 to 10 years. The Centre noted that nuclear medicine facilities for cancer and neurological care remain inadequate in smaller towns, urging expansion of PET CT, SPECT, and radiotherapy ..

Andhra skill scam: CID gives clean chit to CM Naidu, court accepts report

In a relief to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a local court in Vijayawada has closed a case filed against him over his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds from the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation, which, according to the case, caused a loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer. Naidu had spent more than 50 days in the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison before the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted him bail on October 31, 2023. Andhra Pradesh Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas said the investigating agency found no involvement of the Chief Minister and accordingly filed a memo in the court, which was accepted by the judicial officer. "After completing the investigation, the agency filed a closure report stating that there was no substance in the case regarding Naidu's role. The court accepted it on Monday," Srinivas told PTI. Naidu was arrested in the case on September 9, 2023, when YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy was the chief minister.

Fire at ONGC gas well in Konaseema extinguished after five-day struggle

The fire triggered by a major gas blowout at an ONGC-owned well in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district was extinguished on Saturday morning. Konaseema District Joint Collector T Nisanthi said the blowout has been fully controlled. The fire is extinguished. Almost no flames now. Blowout (was) fully controlled this (Saturday) morning only, she told PTI. Further, she said operations pertaining to capping of the gas well, Mori-5, and some mudding, a technical process, are underway now. A massive fireball reaching up to a height of 20 metres and a width of 25 metres erupted on January 5 near Mori and Irusumanda villages, following a gas leak at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)-owned well Mori-5. The gas well located in the lush green and amply irrigated Konaseema district was being operated by ONGC's Production Enhancement Contractor (PEC) Deep Industries Ltd, an Ahmedabad-based listed company. Following the disaster, ONGC senior management took direct operational control. The ON

Andhra govt approves 754 CRDA jobs, orphan pensions, and Krishna marina

The 57th CRDA meeting headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Nadu on Tuesday ratified over 700 jobs in the authority, approved extending welfare pensions to orphans in the capital region and the development of a marina by Krishna river. The approved posts in the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) pertain to various cadres and if needed the government will fill these posts from outside the ranks of government officials also. "The CRDA approved the ratification of 754 posts in CRDA," said an official press release, detailing the decisions. As beneficiaries below 18 years of age are not eligible for welfare pensions, the CRDA has decided to relax this restriction in the case of seven minor orphans in the greenfield capital region, who are expected to receive Rs 5,000 as monthly pension. Further, Naidu called for the development of the Krishna River front in Amaravati to promote tourism, resulting in the CRDA deciding to develop a marina under Public Private Partnership (PPP)

Andhra govt to pay true-up power dues worth ₹4,500 crore to DISCOMS

The APERC said the state government has come forward to pay Rs 4,500 crore worth true-up dues to power distribution companies in an "effort to avoid hardship to end consumers". True-up dues encompass accumulated gaps in revenue and costs, and this quantum of Rs 4,500 crore reportedly pertains to the previous YSRCP regime between 2019 and 2024. "It is noted that the Government of Andhra Pradesh...has undertaken to pay the DISCOMS the true-up amount to avoid hardship to end consumers," Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) secretary P Krishna said in a press release, shared on Friday. Discom-wise true-up dues are: Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd (APSPDCL) - Rs 1,552 crore; Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (APCPDCL) - Rs 1,163 crore; and Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd (APEPDCL) - Rs 1,783 crore. As the government has come forward to clear true-up dues, the commission directed the DISCOMS to claim

Andhra Govt to prepare terms of reference for 7 water aerodromes in state

The Expert Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has given its nod to the Andhra Pradesh government to prepare Terms of Reference for constructing seven water aerodromes in the state, including one in Visakhapatnam, official sources said. Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Ltd, the implementing agency for the aerodromes, has approached the Ministry seeking its nod for preparing ToR for the projects. The approval is the first step towards applying for environmental clearance. According to the sources, the government submitted proposals to construct aerodromes, besides Visakhapatnam, one each at Jalaput Lake and Sileru - Lambasing of Alluri Sitharama Raju District, Srisailam in Nandyal district, Kakinada, Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada and Gandikota in YSR Kadapa district. "The EAC recommended the preparation of ToRs for all seven aerodromes with certain conditions. We are planning to construct three more water aerodromes at ...

Cheap polyester shawls passed off as silk at Tirupati in a ₹55 cr scam

A high polyester content was found in the shawls that were supposed to be made of pure silk. TTD has procured over 21,600 silk shawls since 2015, valued at approximately ₹55 crore

Andhra CM calls for change in govt business rules to improve governance

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday called for an overhaul of government business rules to improve governance and service delivery to the people. Addressing a meeting of ministers, secretaries and heads of departments at the secretariat, the Chief Minister emphasised that the government must be willing to make sweeping changes for the public good. When we have amended the constitution itself several times in the country, what's wrong in changing the business rules to do good to people? he asked. He directed officials to rescind unnecessary rules and implement comprehensive change management to ease governance. The CM directed called for extending efficient governance powered by technology and a data lake, and directed an audit of all departments to assess efficiency. According to Naidu, the government possesses complete information of the performance of every officer and department. He advised them to cognisant of this data and ensure that they work with

Andhra sets ₹10,000 cr revenue target for registration, stamps department

The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday said it has set a revenue target of over Rs 10,000 crore for its Registration and Stamps Department for the fiscal year 2025-26. The state has identified 430 real estate ventures and aims to facilitate nearly 15,570 user-friendly registrations through these projects, expected to generate Rs 250 crore in revenue. "In this financial year (2025-26), a target of earning Rs 10,169 crore revenue through the Registration and Stamps Department has been set. 430 real estate ventures have been identified to implement an action plan to facilitate user-friendly registration," a press release, summarising a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, said. Between June 15, 2024, and December 1, 2025, the Revenue Department received over 5.2 lakh grievances, of which more than 4.5 lakh have been resolved, while 73,000 are still under consideration, the release added. The release also highlighted that the auto-mutation process has ...

Patanjali to set up ₹118 cr wellness hub under Andhra's tourism plan

Patanjali Group will invest ₹118 crore to establish a holistic wellness hub at Yendada in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first private project under AP's new health and spiritual tourism circuit strategy

Andhra extends govt guarantee for ₹7,500 cr Amaravati infrastructure loan

Andhra Pradesh has extended a government guarantee and a letter of comfort to the Capital Region Development Authority for availing a Rs 7,500 crore loan to develop the greenfield capital city of Amaravati, said an official. S Suresh Kumar, principal secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, said the guarantee and the letter of comfort for the loan from the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) came with conditions such as the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) meeting the debt servicing obligations from its own resources and others. "The government after careful examination of the proposal, hereby agree for providing Government Guarantee and Letter of Comfort for NaBFID loan amount of Rs 7,500 crore," said Kumar in a government order (GO) on Friday. Spanning the entire tenure of the loan period, he said the guarantee extends to the principal and interest part as well. The government guarantee shall come into force only in the