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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a series of meetings with Union ministers in the national capital, pressing for accelerated execution of the Polavaram irrigation project, release of INR 1,211 crore pending under various farm schemes, and expansion of railway infrastructure. He highlighted inter-state water disputes, sought approvals for new irrigation and river-linking projects, discussed organic farming promotion, and pushed for Swachh Andhra's zero landfill initiative. Naidu also acknowledged central support in reviving Vizag Steel Plant and requested continued cooperation for funding and project approvals across key sectors.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met several Union ministers seeking intervention from the Centre to expedite the Polavaram irrigation project, secure pending farm scheme funds, and enhance railway infrastructure across the state. During his visit, he held separate discussions with ministers overseeing Jal Shakti, Agriculture, Railways, Home and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Steel, focusing on approvals, technical assistance, and financial support for major initiatives. Advertisement
Naidu urged the Union Jal Shakti Minister to permanently lift the stop work order on the Polavaram project, stating that the directive continues to hinder smooth project execution. He highlighted additional costs arising from capacity enhancements of the Polavaram right and left main canals and requested full funding for Phase II, covering land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement, and construction of protective embankments. Phase II alone requires around INR 32,000 crore.
The Chief Minister also proposed the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project to divert surplus Godavari floodwaters to drought-prone areas, emphasizing its importance for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial needs, and requested approvals under the National River Linking Policy. He pressed for swift resolution of the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha Vamsadhara river water dispute and the timely notification of the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal report to enable construction of the Neradi Barrage. He also stressed the need to form the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal to address Andhra Pradesh-Telangana water sharing and raised concerns over Karnataka's plans to raise the Almatti Dam, warning of downstream water impact.
In discussions with the Union Agriculture Minister, Naidu requested the release of INR 1,211 crore pending under central farm schemes, including INR 216 crore under the PM PRANAM scheme, INR 200 crore for coconut cultivation development, INR 695 crore under the Per Drop More Crop programme, and INR 100 crore as the Centre's share for mango farmers under the Price Deficiency Payment System for the 2025-26 season.
He highlighted Andhra Pradesh's progress in reducing chemical fertiliser usage, noting a 2.28 per cent decline during the 2024-25 crop year. The state is actively promoting organic and natural farming, with 18 lakh farmers already consenting to adopt organic practices across nearly eight lakh hectares. Naidu also proposed the creation of a Makhana Development Board, pointing out that around 50,000 acres in the Kolleru Lake region are suitable for cultivation.
Meeting the Union Railway Minister, Naidu submitted a detailed memorandum seeking completion of ongoing railway projects, sanction of new railway lines, and introduction of additional train services. He requested extending the Bengaluru-Chennai high-speed rail corridor to Tirupati and asked for a gazette notification to commence operations of the South Coastal Railway Zone from April 1.
The Chief Minister proposed greenfield mega coaching terminals at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Amaravati, and sought cooperation for a dedicated freight corridor between Itarsi and Vijayawada, as well as the East Coast Freight Corridor connecting Kharagpur to Chennai via Vijayawada. He also requested operating a Vande Bharat train service between Vijayawada and Bengaluru via Tirupati.
Naidu discussed Andhra Pradesh's Swachh Andhra initiative with the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, briefing on measures to strengthen waste management systems and transform the state into a Zero Landfill State. A detailed action plan under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 has been prepared with an estimated outlay of INR 276 crore. He requested approval of INR 105 crore as the Centre's share to support implementation of the zero landfill plan across urban local bodies.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Steel Minister for central support in reviving the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL), highlighting that the turnaround was achieved through financial assistance from the Centre, backing from the state government, and the dedication of plant employees. RINL has returned to profitability and is operating at full capacity, marking a major milestone for the public sector steel plant.
Naidu also met the Union Home and Finance ministers to discuss key state-related issues, ongoing and proposed projects, and requested continued central support for funding and approvals across sectors.
Source PTI
FAQ
Q1. Why did Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu meet Union ministers?
Naidu met Union ministers to seek accelerated execution of the Polavaram irrigation project, release of pending farm scheme funds, expansion of railway infrastructure, and approval for the Swachh Andhra zero landfill initiative. He also discussed inter-state water disputes, promotion of organic farming, and acknowledged central support in reviving the Vizag Steel Plant (RINL). The meetings aimed to ensure timely approvals, technical support, and funding for critical state projects across multiple sectors.
Q2. What were the key requests regarding the Polavaram project?
The Chief Minister urged the Union Jal Shakti Minister to permanently lift the stop-work order on the Polavaram project, highlighting delays and additional costs due to capacity enhancements in Phase II. This phase alone requires around INR 32,000 crore for land acquisition, rehabilitation, embankments, and construction. He also proposed the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project to divert surplus Godavari floodwaters to drought-prone areas, requested approvals under the National River Linking Policy, and pressed for the resolution of water disputes with Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka to ensure uninterrupted project execution.
Q3. What farm-related funding did the CM seek?
Naidu requested the release of INR 1,211 crore pending under central farm schemes. This included INR 216 crore under the PM PRANAM scheme, INR 200 crore for coconut cultivation development, INR 695 crore under the Per Drop More Crop programme, and INR 100 crore as the Centre's share for mango farmers under the Price Deficiency Payment System for the 2025-26 season. He also highlighted Andhra Pradesh's progress in reducing chemical fertilizer usage and its active promotion of organic and natural farming, with 18 lakh farmers covering nearly eight lakh hectares. Additionally, Naidu proposed the creation of a Makhana Development Board for around 50,000 acres in the Kolleru Lake region.
Q4. What railway initiatives were discussed?
The Chief Minister submitted a detailed memorandum seeking completion of ongoing railway projects, sanction of new railway lines, and introduction of additional train services. He requested extending the Bengaluru-Chennai high-speed rail corridor to Tirupati and urged a gazette notification to commence operations of the South Coastal Railway Zone from April 1. Naidu also proposed greenfield mega coaching terminals at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Amaravati, and sought cooperation for dedicated freight corridors, including the Itarsi-Vijayawada corridor and the East Coast Freight Corridor connecting Kharagpur to Chennai via Vijayawada. Additionally, he requested operation of a Vande Bharat train service between Vijayawada and Bengaluru via Tirupati.
Q5. What is the Swachh Andhra zero landfill plan?
Naidu discussed the Swachh Andhra initiative with the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, aiming to transform Andhra Pradesh into a Zero Landfill State. A detailed action plan has been prepared under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, with an estimated cost of INR 276 crore. The Chief Minister requested approval of INR 105 crore as the Centre's share to support the implementation of the zero landfill plan across urban local bodies, strengthening waste management systems and promoting sustainable urban development.
Q6. How is Vizag Steel Plant (RINL) revival progressing?
Naidu acknowledged the central and state support that enabled RINL to return to profitability and full-capacity operations. He highlighted that financial assistance from the Centre, backing from the state government, and the dedication of plant employees played a crucial role in the successful turnaround of this public sector steel plant.
Q7. What other matters did Naidu raise with Union ministers?
The Chief Minister discussed key state-related issues, ongoing and proposed projects, and requested continued central support for funding and approvals across multiple sectors. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the state and Centre to ensure timely implementation of infrastructure, irrigation, agricultural, industrial, and urban development projects, promoting sustainable growth and efficient use of resources across Andhra Pradesh.
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