Page 3 - Andhra Pradesh

AP Cabinet approves Dagadarthi greenfield airport project at Nellore

In a significant boost to Andhra Pradesh's aviation and industrial infrastructure, the state Cabinet has approved the Dagadarthi Greenfield Airport project in Nellore district. With this approval, Dagadarthi will become Andhra Pradesh's 8th airport, reinforcing the state's vision of creating a future-ready, multimodal logistics and industrial network, officials said. Strategically located, the Dagadarthi airport enjoys excellent connectivity to National Highway corridors, two major ports Krishnapatnam Port and Ramayapatnam Port and multiple industrial clusters, including KRIS City and IFFCO SEZs. This unique locational advantage positions the airport as a critical enabler for manufacturing, exports, agri-logistics, and services-led growth in southern Andhra Pradesh. The project has already received in-principle clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to invite private participation for developmen

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

Likelihood of escalation at ONGC's Konaseema gas well remote, says company

Maharatna public sector oil and gas major ONGC on Wednesday said there is a "remote likelihood" of escalation of its unextinguished gas well blaze triggered by a blowout here in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district. 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 an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) owned Well Mori- 5, whose intensity has been reduced now. A blowout is the uncontrolled release of crude oil or natural gas from an oil well or a gas well, following the failure of pressure control systems. The fire at Mori-5 well has forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Officials said the intensity of the blaze has been reduced now. However, ONGC highlighted that significant progress has been achieved in the blowout operations. "In view of the steady progress achieved and the remote likelihood of escalation, the district administration has advised residents in

Tata Power to set up ₹6,675 crore 10 GW manufacturing facility in Andhra

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) will set up a greenfield 10 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing facility at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of Rs 6,675 crore. The project will be the largest ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in the country, reinforcing Andhra Pradesh's position as a leading hub for advanced solar manufacturing, state government officials said. The project has been cleared by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The facility will be developed at the IFFCO Kisan Special Economic Zone, where the Government of Andhra Pradesh has earmarked 200 acres for the project, including 120 acres for the initial phase and 80 acres for future expansion. The ingots and wafers produced at the facility are critical inputs for solar cells, modules, and semiconductor applications, and the project aligns with the Government of India's push to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence for strate

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)

Expert teams arriving from Delhi, Mumbai to douse gas well blaze in Andhra

The ONGC expert teams are arriving from Mumbai and Delhi to douse the gas well blaze here in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, an official said on Tuesday. The intensity of the fire got reduced compared to Monday, they added. A massive jet fire of up to 20 metres height and 25 metres width was ignited around 12:40 pm on January 5 near Mori and Irusumanda villages after a gas leak at an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)-owned well, Mori-5. However, the gas well is not operated by the Maharatna company but by its Production Enhancement Contractor (PEC) Deep Industries Ltd, an Ahmedabad-based company. "They (firefighters) have created a water umbrella to make the temperature cool down, but the flames are still coming, so the expert teams will arrive and they will assess the situation, and accordingly they will take all measures to douse the flames," Konaseema joint collector T Nisanthi told PTI. She said the expert teams are coming from Mumbai and Delhi. By sprinkling water, al

Andhra tops India investment chart, secures 25.3% of proposed FY26 capital

Andhra Pradesh has emerged as India's top investment destination, capturing 25.3 per cent of all proposed investments in the first nine months of current fiscal (FY26), according to a Bank of Baroda report. The state now leads peers such as Odisha (13.1 per cent) and Maharashtra (12.8 per cent), signalling a shift in industrial momentum toward the eastern and southern corridors. The report notes that over half (51.2 per cent) of India's total proposed capital investment is concentrated in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Nationwide, investment announcements reached Rs 26.6 lakh crore in the period, up 11.5 per cent year-on-year. "There are clear signs of a pick-up in investment intentions in the country this year," the report said, adding this was on the back of a very positive policy package of the government which has focussed on capex, lowering of income tax rates and GST 2.0. This, it said, has countered to an extent the impact of the higher tariffs imposed by the USA o

CM Naidu welcomes reports naming Andhra top investment destination

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday welcomed reports stating that the state has emerged as the top investment destination, accounting for over 25 per cent of all proposed investments in the first nine months of FY26. He described the development as a strong start to the calendar year 2026. Naidu said the development reflects the impact of the state's forward-looking policy reforms, particularly the 'speed of doing business' initiatives. "This is welcome news for the people of Andhra Pradesh and a strong start to the year. It reflects the impact of our forward-looking policy reforms, including the concept of an escrow-based mechanism for timely and transparent incentive distribution, as well as the introduction of clear, sector-specific policies," the CM said in a post on 'X'. Thanking investors for choosing Andhra Pradesh as their destination for growth, the TDP supremo said they have placed their confidence in the state's long-term vision. He noted that

Andhra Pradesh corners 25.3% of FY26 investments: Bank of Baroda report

The private sector dominated the investment pipeline with a share of 89.7 per cent or ₹23.87 trillion, while government sector investments stood at ₹2.75 trillion

Andhra Pradesh attracts 25.3% of proposed investments in FY26: Report

State accounted for over a quarter of India's proposed investments in the first nine months of FY26, emerging ahead of Odisha and Maharashtra, according to a Bank of Baroda report

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

Aramco, Oil India likely to pick up stake in BPCL's Andhra refinery

State-run BPCL is setting up a greenfield refinery and petrochemicals project near Ramayapatnam port in Nellore district to meet rising domestic demand and boost petrochemical exports

Andhra allows surgeries by Ayurvedic doctors: Why the IMA is pushing back

A new Andhra policy allowing PG Ayurvedic doctors to perform select surgeries has drawn sharp criticism from the IMA, which says surgery requires training standards followed only in modern medicine

1 killed as Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express train catches fire in Andhra

A man was killed after two compartments of the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express caught fire at Yalamanchili, about 66 km from here, a senior police official said on Monday. The official said they received information about the fire at 12:45 am. The official told reporters that there were 82 passengers in one of the affected coaches and 76 in another when the train caught fire. "Unfortunately, a dead body was found from the B1 coach," the official added. The deceased was identified as Chandrsekhar Sundaram. The two damaged coaches were detached from the train, which proceeded towards Ernakulam. The passengers in the damaged coaches will be sent to their destinations. Two forensic teams are working to ascertain the cause of the fire, the police official said.

Andhra govt issues NOC to Vedanta to drill 20 onshore oil, gas wells

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a conditional "No Objection Certificate" to Vedanta Limited (Cairn Oil & Gas Division) for drilling 20 onshore wells in Krishna district. According to a recent Government Order, Vedanta Limited (Cairn Oil & Gas Division) has submitted a representation, stating that their firm was awarded the work of development of the Onshore Oil and Gas Field under the Discovered Small Field (DSF) Policy, 2018. Further, they requested to grant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for drilling wells at 35 locations in the block located in various village limits for Onshore Oil and Gas Development and Production, from the Water Resources Department of Andhra Pradesh, as the Bandar Canal passes through the centre of the proposed block. After careful examination of the matter, the government hereby issues No Objection Certificate' to M/s Vedanta Limited (Cairn Oil & Gas Division), Mumbai, for drilling 20 Nos. of wells at the locations mentioned at para ...

Bigg Boss Telugu 9 finale: Who is Kalyan Padala, the man who lifted trophy?

Kalyan Padala has won the Bigg Boss 9 Telugu reality show hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni. He made history by becoming the youngest winner and also the first non-celebrity contestant ever

USFDA issues Form 483 with five observations to Aurobindo's Pharma unit

Aurobindo Pharma on Thursday said the US health regulator has issued a Form 483 with five observations after inspecting Andhra Pradesh-based Unit-IV of its subsidiary APL Healthcare. The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) inspected the unit from December 8 to December 17, 2025, the Hyderabad-based drug firm said in a regulatory filing. "At the end of the inspection, a 'Form 483' was issued with 5 observations which are procedural in nature, and we will respond to the US FDA within the stipulated timelines," it added. The company is committed to maintaining the highest quality manufacturing standards at all of its facilities across the globe, the drug firm said. As per the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Form 483 is issued to a firm's management at the conclusion of an inspection when the investigator has observed any conditions that may constitute violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and related Acts. Shares of Aurobindo Pharma were trading 0.83 per ..

Petrol, diesel prices: Andhra Pradesh costliest, Andaman & Nicobar cheapest

Petrol and diesel are costliest in Andhra Pradesh largely because of the highest VAT the state charges, while smaller states and Union Territories such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands have the lowest fuel prices, according to information furnished in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. A litre of petrol in Amaravati - the capital city of Andhra Pradesh - costs Rs 109.74, while the same in Andaman & Nicobar Islands comes for Rs 82.46, according to a written reply by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi in response to a question on disparities in fuel prices. "The final selling prices of petrol and diesel include excise duty fixed by the Central Government and Value Added Tax (VAT)/Taxes fixed by the respective State/UT Governments," he said, adding that the rates vary across the country due to different freight rates and VAT/local levies, which vary from state to state. NDA-ruled Andhra Pradesh charges the highest VAT of Rs 29.06 per litre on petrol, while the same ..

HC directs social media platforms to act within week on Pawan Kalyan's plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed social media intermediaries to act within seven days on Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's plea seeking protection of his personality rights. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noted that the politician has already approached the social media intermediaries with his grievances. In a similar matter concerning actor Ajay Devgn, the court clarified while granting him interim relief that the plaintiffs in such matters would have to first lodge their protest with the social media intermediaries and then approach the court. The court directed the social media intermediaries to treat Kalyan's plea as a complaint under the Information and Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and take the necessary steps within seven days. It said that in case the social media intermediaries have any reservations about any links given by Kalyan, they should inform him. Senior advocate J Sai Deepak, ...

At least 9 dead, 23 injured as bus falls off road in Andhra Pradesh

At least nine people died and 22 were injured after a bus fell off a road and turned turtle here in Alluri Sitaramarajud district in the early hours of Friday, police said. They said the bus, which was headed to neighbouring Telangana from Chittoor, was carrying 37 people, including the driver and the cleaner. Six of them are safe. Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Bardar said the accident occurred around 4:30 am on Chintoor-Maredumilli ghat road near a Durga temple. "At least nine people died and 22 were injured as the bus fell off the ghat road. The bus did not fully plunge into the valley. It turned turtle... and got stuck," Bardar told PTI, adding that four of the injured are critical. According to the officer, it is likely that the bus driver did not see a curve at the accident site, which falls in the Mothugudem police station area, due to heavy fog. Bardar said the bus passengers were going to the Sri Rama temple in Telangana's Bhadrachalam from Chittoor.