Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, 4 August called for collective cooperation to propel the state to a 15 per cent GSDP growth rate, framing his vision as building a 'healthy, wealthy and happy' Andhra Pradesh. Releasing a white paper on state finances at the Secretariat in Amaravati, Naidu laid out a detailed progress report covering the 2024–2026 period, citing inherited debt burdens and outlining the NDA government's revival strategy.

The Fiscal Inheritance: A Debt-Laden State

Naidu said that following state bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh recorded a GSDP growth rate of 13.5 per cent during 2014–2019. However, this slipped to 10.3 per cent during 2019–2024, resulting in a cumulative GSDP loss of ₹6.94 lakh crore. Had the earlier growth trajectory been maintained, the state would have earned an additional ₹76,195 crore in revenue, he argued.

The per capita income gap, he noted, widened sharply — from ₹55,817 crore in 2019 to ₹1,06,854 crore in 2023–24. Public debt as a share of GSDP stood at 33.83 per cent during the previous term, rising by a further 2.37 percentage points due to committed expenditure obligations left by the prior administration.

Naidu alleged that the previous government stalled construction of the Amaravati capital, delayed the Polavaram irrigation project — leading to a diaphragm wall collapse — and damaged the investment climate through deteriorating law and order. The inherited debt and liabilities, he said, amounted to ₹9.74 lakh crore, pushing Andhra Pradesh into what he described as a debt trap.

NDA Government's Revival Strategy

The Chief Minister outlined a multi-pronged approach to fiscal recovery, focusing on clearing pending liabilities, delivering welfare commitments, and attracting investment. Since taking office, the government has revived 86 centrally sponsored schemes by clearing pending dues of ₹8,695 crore and secured ₹29,890 crore in central funds since June 2024.

Welfare spending over the past two years totalled ₹1.49 lakh crore. The government also created 30,607 government jobs, filled 15,941 teacher posts through a mega District Selection Committee (DSC) process, and recruited 5,757 constable posts.

Welfare Outreach Across Communities

Naidu detailed targeted assistance across social groups: ₹19,100 crore was disbursed to 43 lakh SC beneficiaries and ₹5,730 crore to 9 lakh ST beneficiaries. A further ₹32,534 crore was extended to 118 lakh BC beneficiaries, while ₹4,856 crore was directed to 17 lakh minority beneficiaries.

On women's empowerment, the Chief Minister announced a target to enable 5 lakh Self-Help Group (SHG) women to become entrepreneurs in 2026–27, supported by branding and market linkages under the umbrella label 'Swayam-AP'. Andhra Pradesh reportedly leads the country in bank loans availed by rural SHG women and has fully digitalised its SHG loan disbursement process.

Infrastructure Milestones and Regional Development

Naidu cited the recent inauguration of Bhogapuram Airport as a growth catalyst for the North Andhra region, pointing to strong public turnout as evidence of positive governance outcomes. The 2026–27 state budget was framed around balanced regional development, with special initiatives for three economic zones: Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati.

Key project timelines announced include: completion of Phase-I of Amaravati capital development by 2028, dedication of the Polavaram project to the nation by March 2027, and a ₹1 lakh crore integrated horticulture development plan for the Rayalaseema region, aimed at positioning it as an international horticultural hub. All eyes will now be on whether the state's fiscal consolidation path can sustain the momentum needed to hit the 15 per cent growth target.