On August 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, highlighting the state’s potential to become a major growth engine for India. The Prime Minister emphasized that the NDA government, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, is driving development in the state with renewed energy. Modi recalled his appeal for a double-engine government, which he said is essential for rapid progress in Andhra Pradesh. During the event, he launched development projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore, spanning aviation, road connectivity, energy security, and semiconductors.
The Prime Minister noted that these projects demonstrate the speed at which Andhra Pradesh is advancing, contributing to the vision of Swarna Andhra and Viksit Bharat. Under Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, Andhra Pradesh is becoming a significant contributor to India’s growth ambitions, Modi said. He also highlighted the expansion of India’s aviation sector, with the number of operational airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 166. The UDAN scheme has made air travel accessible to common citizens, and the second phase will see an investment of Rs 29,000 crore to strengthen regional connectivity.
Modi emphasized the government’s focus on increasing investments and encouraging private sector participation, creating a complete ecosystem for a global growth centre. He credited Chandrababu Naidu’s efforts in attracting interest from major global companies, including Google’s announcement of an AI and cloud infrastructure campus in Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister also discussed the development of coastal Andhra, with a vision to create a Coastal Economic Corridor, and highlighted the expansion of highways, expressways, and railway infrastructure in the state.
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📰 Source: Daijiworld