PM Modi Affirms Commitment to Transform Andhra Pradesh into a Thriving, Modern State

Visakhapatnam, Jan 8 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Wednesday that the NDA government is determined to enhance Andhra Pradesh into a thriving and contemporary state.

He assured full support to Andhra Pradesh in reaching its target of becoming a $2.5 trillion economy by 2047, emphasizing that the Centre is prioritizing the state in various schemes worth lakhs of crores.

During a public meeting in this coastal city, he inaugurated projects totaling over Rs 2 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh.

The event also featured remarks from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and State IT Minister Nara Lokesh.

Labeling Andhra Pradesh as a land of opportunities and possibilities, the Prime Minister declared that "Andhra Pradesh’s advancement is their vision, and serving the people of Andhra is their commitment".

"The Centre is walking hand in hand with Andhra Pradesh to reach the aspiration of a 2.5 trillion dollar economy set under the Swarnandhra@2047 vision,” he remarked.

He expressed hope that the newly launched projects would elevate Andhra Pradesh's development and lay a solid foundation for transforming the state into a $2.5 trillion economy.

"Due to its innovative character, Andhra Pradesh stands as a significant hub for IT and technology. It is now time for Andhra to emerge as a center for new advanced technologies. We need to lead in fields that are in development, such as green hydrogen,” said the Prime Minister, who initiated the establishment of a green hydrogen hub with an investment of Rs 1.85 lakh crore.

He highlighted that the National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in 2023, aims for a production target of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.

Initially, two green hydrogen hubs will be set up, with one located in Visakhapatnam.

“In the future, Visakhapatnam will be among the few cities globally to feature a green hydrogen facility of such scale. This hub will generate jobs and foster a manufacturing ecosystem,” PM Modi stated, who also laid the groundwork for a bulk drug park, indicating that Andhra Pradesh is one of three states establishing such parks.

He anticipated that this would provide optimal infrastructure to enhance manufacturing and research, attracting investments and benefiting pharmaceutical companies. Emphasizing urbanization as an opportunity, he expressed the desire to make Andhra Pradesh a model of new-age urbanization.

As part of this vision, the foundation was laid for the Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KRIS City) in the Tirupati district under the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.

This smart city is expected to draw investments worth thousands of crores and create numerous industrial jobs.

He acknowledged that Andhra Pradesh is already recognized for Sri City. He confidently stated that Andhra Pradesh is poised to become one of the leading states in manufacturing and industrial output.

The Prime Minister noted that the government has launched the PLI scheme to promote manufacturing and highlighted that India has already ranked among the top nations in mobile manufacturing.

PM Modi, who laid the foundation stone for the South Coast Railway zone headquarters, remarked that this would be crucial for the state's progress. He expressed hope that this would facilitate the expansion of agriculture and trade activities in the region, boosting tourism and creating new economic opportunities.

Mentioning the launch of railway connectivity projects valued at thousands of crores, he pointed out that Andhra Pradesh is one of the states achieving 100 percent electrification.

More than 70 railway stations in the state are undergoing development under the Amrit Bharat stations scheme, and for enhanced travel convenience, seven Vande Bharat trains and an Amrit Bharat Train are operational in the state.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this infrastructure revolution, along with improved connectivity and facilities, would transform the state's landscape, enhancing the ease of doing business and quality of life.

He remarked that Visakhapatnam and the Andhra Pradesh coast have served as gateways for India's trade for centuries, maintaining their significance.

"To exploit opportunities linked to the sea, the blue economy is being promoted vigorously. As part of this initiative, the Visakhapatnam fishing harbor is being modernized,” he added.