Page 3 - Andhra Pradesh Government

Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves ₹15,000 aid for auto, cab drivers

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday approved a government order to extend Rs 15,000 financial aid to eligible autorickshaw and cab drivers, I&PR Minister K Parthasarathy said. Under the schemeAuto Driver Sevaloover 2.9 lakh drivers are set to benefit, with Rs 436 crore allocated for the fiscal year 2025-26. The scheme will be launched by the chief minister on October 4. The cabinet approved the government order issued to extend Rs 15,000 financial aid to autorickshaw, motor cab and maxi cab drivers for fiscal 202526, Parthasarathy told reporters at a press conference at the Secretariat. The cabinet also approved a proposal to include a caravan tourism promotion initiative in the 202429 Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy, aimed at establishing caravan parks and promoting caravan tourism, he said. Similarly, it approved a framework and initiatives to encourage homestays and bed-and-breakfast segments in the state under the 202429 Andhra ...

Jagan hits out at CM Naidu as Karnataka clears Almatti Dam expansion

YSRCP supremo Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday hit out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for "completely neglecting" the state's interests following Karnataka's plans to raise the height of the Almatti Dam. Reddy pointed out that the Karnataka Cabinet recently approved increasing the dam's height from 519 metres to 524.2 metres, which will effectively double its storage capacity from 130 TMC to 280 TMC. He noted that the neighbouring state allocated a budget of Rs 70,000 crore on September 16 for this purpose. Reddy delivered a sharp warning to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of completely neglecting Andhra Pradesh's interests while Karnataka pushes forward with raising the height of the Almatti Dam, said a YSRCP press release. The opposition leader alleged that despite the grave threat to Andhra Pradesh's irrigation and drinking water needs, Naidu has failed to act. Entire regions face the danger of turning barren without water, he said and ...

Andhra govt unveils ₹4,500 crore plan to upgrade 15,000 km of roads

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that the state government has formulated an action plan to improve nearly 15,000 km of roads under the Roads and Buildings Department, with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore. Addressing the Assembly on logistics and related issues, Naidu said reducing logistics costs will also lower production costs. "This year, we will work on all these. This government will take responsibility for laying better roads to go to any village. There will not be any issue with any road. We will make those arrangements," he added, outlining the action plan. Highlighting the importance of roads, the chief minister said, "Roads indicate culture, and in a civilised world, good roads are a basic requirement, though we may talk about IT, technology or whatever." Under the Rs 4,500-crore action plan, he said, riding surfaces will be improved for 1,250 km of roads at a cost of Rs 400 crore; upgrades carried out for 1,433 km of state highways

Amaravati makes a 'quantum' leap to build and export computers in 2 years

Chandrababu Naidu said Amaravati Quantum Valley will build India's first quantum computers and begin exports within two years, with $1 billion investment by 2029

Amaravati infrastructure projects to be completed by 2028: CM Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday asserted that all works taken up in Amaravati would be completed in the next three years, including infrastructre projects worth Rs 50,000 crore. Speaking at a conclave, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the capital's infrastructure would be ready by 2028 and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate and dedicate Amaravati to the country. Every work started in Amaravati will be completed in the next three years. That means all the infrastructure, about Rs 50,000 crore infrastructure, will be completed in Amaravati in the next three years. And the PM will come again to inaugurate it and dedicate it. This will happen, said Naidu. Once these objectives are achieved, he claimed that the private sector will pick up from there on a massive scale', paving the way for a knowledge economy with colleges, universities and others. Further, the CM exuded confidence that the Polavaram Project will be completed by 202

Chandrababu Naidu denies ex-CM Jagan's claims of urea scam in Andhra

YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of creating an "artificial scarcity of urea, resulting in a scam worth Rs 200-250 crore." Addressing a press conference, Jagan claimed that police had threatened to register cases against YSRCP leaders who participated in protests organised by his party on Tuesday. It is evident that the fertiliser is being diverted to the black market, creating scarcity. With the encouragement and involvement of Chandrababu Naidu, its sale in the black market has turned into a scam worth Rs 200-250 crore. The ill-gotten money is being distributed from the top to the bottom of the leadership, Jagan alleged. He also claimed that inadequate support prices for farmers had driven them to suicide and listed various commodity prices, saying the previous YSRCP government had always intervened to support farmers when prices dropped. He further alleged that government assets "were being sold for peanuts"

'Artificial shortage' of urea in Andhra becomes ₹200-250 cr scam: Jagan

Lashing out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for the "shortage" in urea supply to farmers, YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday alleged that the artificial scarcity of the fertiliser has resulted in a scam of Rs 200- Rs 250 crore. Addressing a press conference, Jagan claimed that the police threatened to register cases against YSRCP leaders who took part in the protests organised by his party on Tuesday. Alleging that farmers are not receiving adequate support prices for their produce in the state, Jagan said it has driven them to "suicide". It is evident that the fertiliser is being diverted to the black market, creating scarcity. With the encouragement and involvement of Chandrababu Naidu, its sale in the black market has turned into a scam worth Rs 200Rs 250 crore. The ill-gotten money is being distributed from the top to the bottom (of the leadership), the former CM alleged. Listing out the prices of various commodities, he claimed that the previou

Andhra cabinet clears universal health policy offering cover up to ₹25 lakh

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday approved a proposal to invite tenders from insurance companies to extend universal health policy, which will offer healthcare services up to Rs 25 lakh, said Information and Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathy. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, he said over five crore people are expected to benefit from the universal policy. "The cabinet has approved the proposal prepared to invite tenders from insurance companies to extend universal health policy under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY - Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme in hybrid mode," said Parthasarathy. As part of this initiative, the insurance company will extend Rs 2.5 lakh healthcare services while those extending up to Rs 25 lakh will be delivered by the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Trust. Parthasarathy said the universal health scheme will approve a patient's treatment within six hours of getting admitted in a hospital and all related transactions

Andhra okays ₹856-cr plan for India's largest printed circuit board plant

The Andhra Pradesh government has approved a Rs 856 crore incentive package for India's largest printed circuit board plant being set up by electronics manufacturing company (EMS) Syrma SGS. The package was cleared by the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, officials said. Syrma SGS will set up India's largest printed circuit board (PCB) plant at an investment of Rs 1,595 crore. The project is being done in partnership with Korea's Shinhyup Electronics. Syrma SGS had submitted a proposal to set up a PCB manufacturing facility in partnership with Shinhyup Electronics Ltd on a 51:49 equity shareholding basis. For the project, the state government will provide 12.56 acres of land at 75 per cent subsidised cost. The project will be located at the Naidupeta industrial area, which is in close proximity to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The project will be commissioned by October 2026 and is expected to add Rs 6,200 crore to the topline of Syrma SGS in FY2027.

Andhra Pradesh to launch family card to track, monitor welfare schemes

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed officials concerned to develop a family card to enhance transparency and ensure the effective implementation of government welfare schemes. The card will be used to track and monitor welfare benefits at the ground level. The Chief Minister emphasised that achieving public satisfaction with these programmes is a top priority. He instructed officials to assign a "family score" to each household and to update all welfare benefits on the card. "Officials were instructed by the CM to develop a family card on par with Aadhaar card to know the implementation of Government welfare schemes at ground level," said an official press release quoting the Chief Minister. Naidu said the family card should be distributed to every member of a household to ensure economic upliftment of the poor through accurate and transparent implementation of government schemes. During a review of the family benefit monitoring system at the ..

Diamond rush in Andhra: Rain-washed soil draws farmers, fortune hunters

From Jonnagiri to Peravali in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, villagers and outsiders are digging rain-washed soils for diamonds, a tradition that has turned farmers into millionaires

Andhra seals ₹9K cr deal with Maersk arm to develop three state ports

Andhra Pradesh signs a Rs 9,000 crore deal with Maersk subsidiary APM Terminals to modernize the Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, and Mulapeta ports, boosting its maritime trade infrastructure.

Andhra's revenue deficit breaches 110% of budget estimate in first 4 months

Andhra Pradesh's revenue deficit crossed 110 per cent of the budget estimate, by reaching Rs 36,741 crore in the first four months of the current fiscal, against the projected deficit of Rs 33,186 crore for the entire year, indicating that the state will have to rely heavily on borrowings or Central government assistance . According to the latest statistics released by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the fiscal deficit for April-July period stood at Rs 48,354.02 which is about 61 per cent of the projected Rs 79,926.90 crore for the financial year. However, the Goods and Services Tax collections grew significantly, achieving 61 per cent of the budget estimate of Rs 27,477.15 crore in the four months. Of the total revenue receipts of Rs 2,97,929.16 crore for the full year, the state achieved Rs 33 per cent at Rs 98,281.42 crore, including Rs 49,198.29 crore of borrowings and other liabilities in the last four months. India Ratings & Research, in a latest report, said for

Andhra liquor scam: Kickbacks laundered through employees, say police

A chargesheet filed by the Andhra Pradesh police in connection with the alleged Rs 3,500-crore liquor scam in a local court alleges that the kickbacks were systematically laundered through low-profile individuals, such as office boys or employees. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged liquor scam filed a supplementary chargesheet on Monday. "During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the accused have systematically laundered the kickback amount with the help of low-profile individuals who were working as office boys or employees in the companies owned by the accused," officials said quoting the chargesheet. "Such employees and individuals acted as couriers and mules for depositing illicit cash into a network of bank accounts linked to the syndicate," they added. This pattern of cash layering and circulation demonstrates a deliberate attempt to conceal the origin of crime proceeds, constituting a classic case of structured money laundering and ...

Andhra govt to launch free bus travel for women from Aug 15: Minister

Andhra Pradesh Minister K Parthasarathy on Wednesday announced that the state government's flagship free bus travel scheme for women, a key poll promise, will be launched across the state on August 15. The scheme, titled 'Stree Shakti' (Women's Power), is expected to cost Rs 1,942 crore annuallyapproximately Rs 162 crore per monthand aims to empower women by improving access to education, employment, and mobility. "I'm happy to share that free bus travel for women will commence on August 15," said the State Information and Public Relations Minister, adding that the initiative is aimed at empowering women and enhancing their access to opportunities in education, employment, and other sectors. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Parthasarathy dismissed reports suggesting the scheme would be limited to select districts. "There were reports that the scheme would be restricted to certain areas, but it ha

Andhra Pradesh govt inks tourism project deals worth ₹500 crore

Deals on tourism projects worth Rs 500 crore were inked in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Andhra Pradesh Tourism Investors Programme at Gandikota Fort in Kadapa district on Friday. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Corporation inked these deals with Ease My Trip, Hilton Hotels and others for tourism projects at various locations. "These agreements have been inked in the presence of the CM to set up tourism projects at various places in the state. Ease my Trip, Hilton Hotels and several other organisations inked deals worth Rs 500 crore with Andhra Pradesh Tourism Corporation," said an official press release. Besides building hotels, these deals are also aimed at setting up facilities for adventure sports, kayaking, jet skiing and others at Gandikota, Srisailam, Mantralayam, Tirupati and other places. Naidu virtually laid the foundation for a string of tourism projects at Gandikota, Borra Caves, Ahobilam, Nagarjuna Sagar and others under Central Government schemes such a

Andhra Pradesh govt cancels two Adani projects at company's request

AGEL wrote to the government to cancel these projects due to boundary disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, which it termed 'local issues'

YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy sent to judicial custody till August 1 in liquor scam

YSRCP Lok Sabha member PV Midhun Reddy who has been arrested in the alleged 3,500 crore liquor scam case was remanded to judicial custody until August 1. He was produced before Vijayawada ACB court today, said a police official. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested Reddy on Saturday in the alleged liquor scam case involving liquor policy during the previous YSRCP regime. Earlier this morning, SIT officials took Mithun Reddy to a government hospital in Vijayawada, where doctors conducted medical examination. "The medical team found no health complications; hence, he was presented before the court as per legal protocol," the police official told PTI. The SIT probing the alleged liquor scam grilled Midhun Reddy for several hours on Saturday and followed it up with his arrest at around 7:30 pm in Vijayawada. YSRCP leaders called the arrest as targeting of opposition voice. Sources in the party told PTI, "We have vowed to fight back with stronger determination, TDP-led ND

Naidu unveils vision to make Andhra Pradesh India's top state by 2047

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has released 'Towards Swarna (golden) Andhra Pradesh@2047', a detailed blueprint for the state's economic development, in New Delhi. This report, prepared by the Taskforce for Economic Development in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), outlines a transformative vision to position Andhra Pradesh as India's leading state by 2047. "By 2047, Andhra Pradesh will be the best state in India, meeting international standards, and we are determined to make it happen," he said, addressing captains of industry in the national capital while releasing the blueprint on Thursday. By 2047, Naidu said the southern state aims to achieve a GSDP of USD 2.4 trillion, log exports worth USD 450 billion and achieve many other ambitious targets. Showcasing Andhra Pradesh, the CM said the state has strong and dynamic human resources, fertile land rich in agricultural commodities, especially horticulture, aquaculture, and commercial crops. On the

Aerospace turf war: Andhra, Karnataka lock horns to attract investment

States clash after Karnataka scraps farmland plan; Andhra pitches 8,000 acres