Chandrababu Naidu meets Modi, Shah and other Union ministers, says debt-hit Andhra needs aid

During his meetings, Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 16 Lok Sabha MPs is a key ally in the BJP-led government at the Centre, apprised them of the “debt crisis” gripping his state and advocated for increased assistance to Andhra.

Naidu also met Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission Arvind Panagariya. The CM sought Centre’s support in commissioning Polavaram national irrigation project and “special incentives” for industrial development. Naidu also advocated for “additional allocation” under the scheme for special assistance to states for capital investment in essential sectors such as roads, bridges, irrigation and drinking water projects. The CM also advocated for support for backward regions of Andhra on the lines of Bundelkhand package.

The Special Category Status (SCS) for Andhra, however, does not seem to have figured in the wish list of Naidu, multiple party sources told The Indian Express. As states including Odisha and Bihar have also been demanding the SCS, the TDP dispensation thinks it would be best to ask for special financial packages for the state instead of SCS, they said. “Durinh the election campaign, we had promised financial packages for the state, not SCS,” a TDP leader said.

Naidu is expected to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday.

According to available figures, the total debt of Andhra Pradesh is Rs 4,42,442 crore as on March 2023.

Naidu’s wishlist: What Andhra CM asked ministers

Amit Shah, Home Minister

• Rs 385 cr land cost for establishing Greyhounds (anti-Maoist force) training centre, `27.54 cr for operational costs; increase IPS officers from 79 to 117

Nitin Gadkari, Highways Minister

• A number of road projects including new expressway connecting Hyderabad and Amaravati

Piyush Goyal, Commerce Minister

• Grant for essential external infrastructure including industrial water, power, rail and road connectivity

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Agriculture Minister

• Integrated aquapark; central share of pending agriculture assistance under various schemes

Manohar Lal Khattar, Power Minister

• Expedite approval process for power line from Kurnool to Vizag; making Vizag-Kakinada a green hydrogen manufacturing hub.

Hardeep Singh Puri, Petroleum Minister

• Setting up BPCL refinery