Everything is “special” for Andhra Pradesh like special focus, special treatment and special assistance.
While addressing a public meeting in Kakinada of Andhra Pradesh today, Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the Centre provides Rs. 2,25,000 crore financial assistance to Andhra Pradesh. The Union Minister said that the NDA government is committed for extending Rs 2.25 lakh crore funding support to AP. He also assured that AP would get more benefits through Special Package. The Centre had already sanctioned Rs. 1.65 lakh crore for implementing various schemes and projects in the State.
“Centre would honour all the AP re-organisation Act assurances. ‘Providing justice to Andhra Pradesh is not only political commitment but also it is the responsibility of the Centre. A large number of industries would come up in the state due to the measures being taken by the Centre and it would lead to huge employment generation in Andhra Pradesh,” the Union Minister said. He further stated that Centre has been providing 100% Financial Assistance for Polavaram Project and declared it as a National Project. He also said that financial assistance of Rs. 2,25,000 Crore allocated Andhra Pradesh for several projects. The minister also said that Rs. 64,000 Crore has been allocated for Development of National Highways in Andhra Pradesh.
Venkaiah Naidu further stated that the central government provides an amount of Rs. 22, 000 Crore towards compensation for deficit budget for a period of five years and Rs. 32,500 Crore Financial Assistance for Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Naval Air Base will be set up in Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh soon at a cost of Rs.3, 300 Crore, he added.
MED TECH Institution will be set up in Visakhapatnam with an amount of Rs. 20,000 Crore. The Centre will also set up a project at Antarvedi with the help of Dredging Corporation of India at a cost of Rs. 18,000 Crore for Development of Naval Establishments. Rs. 52,000 Crore has been allocated to AP for Development of Petro Chemical complex. The centre has also sanctioned Solar Power Plants in Kurnool and Anathapuram. The union government has been investing Rs. 1,22,000 Crore for setting up of Petro chemical complex and Petrochemical University and Expansion of capacity of HPCL unit in Visakhapatnam.
Speaking on this occasion the Union Minister also said that the central government would Provide Rs. 200 Crore in the first year to the Smart city of Kakinada and Rs.100 Crore for each every subsequent year Under Smart Cities Mission. The minister further said that Kakinada has already been selected in the first list of names of 20 cities to be developed into smart cities under Smart Cities Mission along with Visakhapatnam”. Plans will be implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up for each city.
The Union Minister further mentioned that 1, 93, 142 Houses have been allocated to AP out of 9.3 lakh Houses sanctioned for the entire country. The centre has taken several initiatives for completion of the long pending Railway lines between Nandyal – Erragunta, and between Kakinada- Narsapur. The centre has focused on the developments of Ports, Air Ports and Railway lines, Tirupati and Vijayawada airports will be developed up to the International standards in Andhra Pradesh. Several SEZs are also going to be set up very soon in AP.
Venkaiah Naidu said that the Union government is committed for positive action and Development. He also resolved to provide roads to every village of the country through Pradhana Mantri Grama Sadak Yojana. Several initiatives also taken by the Government for setting up the educational institutions like IIIT, NIT, IIM, AIMS, Petroleum university, Skill Development Institute, Maritime University, National institute of Oceanography and Technology in Andhra Pradesh. This Petroleum University is the first of its kind in India.
The Union Minister further said that 4.17 lakhs toilets have been built as a part of Swcha Bharath Mission for achieving clean India. 117 municipal towns Declared as Defecation free areas in Andhra Pradesh. AP stands as Power cut Free State in the country. Skill, Scale and Speed are the three essential concepts to achieve the sustainable development of the country. With the Centre’s support the State government could give 24 hour power supply to its citizens and reiterated that the Centre would support the state government in building its infrastructure. He also said that his ministry has sanctioned Rs 1,000 Crore for Storm Water Drain Project for Vijayawada city and Underground water for Guntur city.
Venkaiah Naidu further said that NDA led government has provided good governance and a corruption free government. (INN)