Amaravati, Feb 10 (NationPress) Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh has advocated for the finalization of current railway projects and the approval of new railway routes for the state.

In a meeting with the Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi, the Chief Minister presented a comprehensive memorandum.

Additionally, he requested the initiation of extra train services within Andhra Pradesh.

During the discussion, Chief Minister Naidu highlighted the newly announced high-speed railway corridors in the recent Union Budget, which include routes between Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, and Chennai–Bengaluru.

In an official statement, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Union government for the announcement of three high-speed railway corridors that connect with Andhra Pradesh.

He requested an extension of the Bengaluru–Chennai high-speed rail corridor to include Tirupati, enhancing access to this prominent pilgrimage city.

Moreover, he urged the Union Railway Minister to issue a gazette notification to initiate operations of the South Coastal Railway Zone by April 1.

To bolster agricultural exports, the Chief Minister proposed the allocation of empty reefer containers at a 50% concessional rate to facilitate the transportation of bananas from Tadipatri to the Mumbai Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.

Chief Minister Naidu also advocated for the creation of greenfield mega terminals in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Amaravati.

To enhance freight transport between North and South India, he requested collaboration on establishing a dedicated freight corridor from Itarsi to Vijayawada.

He also proposed the construction of the East Coast Freight Corridor from Kharagpur to Chennai via Vijayawada, linking major ports in Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister Naidu requested approval for several new railway lines to enhance connectivity in Rayalaseema and tribal regions of the state.

He further sought authorization for a high-speed rail link between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, a semi-high-speed corridor from Vijayawada to Kurnool, and a high-speed connection between Tirupati and Chittoor.

To improve access to major pilgrimage sites, he requested the approval of a new railway line linking Hyderabad, Srisailam, and Markapur.

Additionally, the Chief Minister called for the operation of a Vande Bharat train service between Vijayawada and Bengaluru, passing through Tirupati.

He also requested that the Union Railway Minister provide stops for various express trains at Kuppam and establish a railway coach maintenance terminal in the area.

Chief Minister Naidu also met with Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi to discuss strategies for strengthening agriculture and related sectors in Andhra Pradesh.

He informed Minister Chouhan that Andhra Pradesh has achieved a 2.28% reduction in chemical fertilizer usage during the 2024–25 agricultural season.

Furthermore, he noted that the state government is actively promoting organic and natural farming, with 18 lakh farmers already agreeing to adopt these practices over nearly eight lakh hectares.

Highlighting the state’s flagship Community Managed Natural Farming initiative, the Chief Minister sought the release of funds under the Prime Minister's Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM) to further expand this initiative.

He also urged the Centre to continue PM-PRANAM incentives for reduced chemical usage and requested the release of Rs 216 crore for the year 2024–25.

To provide targeted support for the coconut sector, the Chief Minister asked for central assistance of Rs 200 crore to develop coconut farming in Andhra Pradesh.

He proposed the establishment of coconut processing parks, modern tender coconut markets similar to those in Karnataka, training programs for coconut farmers on advanced cultivation techniques, and the expansion of nurseries.

He emphasized that these initiatives would significantly aid coconut farmers and create jobs for approximately 15,000 individuals.

Lastly, the Chief Minister requested Union Minister Vaishnaw to release Rs 695 crore pending under the Per Drop More Crop scheme.