Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Andhra Pradesh has the potential to emerge as a major growth engine for 'Viksit Bharat', highlighting the state's rapid infrastructure development and investment-driven growth. Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, the Prime Minister said the NDA government, under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, is working at "double the speed" to accelerate the state's development. He also launched development projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore, spanning aviation, road connectivity, energy security and semiconductor manufacturing.
Speaking at the event, Modi said the newly inaugurated projects reflect the pace of Andhra Pradesh's transformation and will contribute significantly to the vision of Swarna Andhra and Viksit Bharat. He reiterated that the NDA government's focus on infrastructure and industrial development is aimed at creating employment opportunities and strengthening the state's role in India's economic growth. The Prime Minister added that Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a key driver in achieving the country's long-term development goals.
Highlighting the expansion of India's aviation sector, Modi said the number of operational airports in the country has increased from 74 in 2014 to 166 today. He credited the UDAN regional connectivity scheme with making air travel accessible to people from smaller towns and ordinary families. The Prime Minister also announced that the second phase of the UDAN scheme would involve an investment of Rs 29,000 crore to further strengthen regional air connectivity. He said the government is also expanding the hub-and-spoke airport model to improve domestic and international aviation links across the country.
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The Prime Minister emphasised that Andhra Pradesh is developing a comprehensive ecosystem to attract investment and generate employment. He said the state is modernising existing ports, including Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam, while developing new ports at Mulapeta and Ramayapatnam as part of the Coastal Economic Corridor. He also highlighted the expansion of highways, expressways and railway projects worth nearly Rs 1 lakh crore, along with ongoing investments in semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres. Modi noted that Google has announced a $15 billion investment in an AI and cloud infrastructure campus in the state, reflecting growing global investor confidence.
The Prime Minister said the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is playing a crucial role in integrating railways, ports and airports to improve logistics, ease of doing business and connectivity for industries and farmers. During the event, he also praised the traditional Dhimsa dance performed by more than 13,000 tribal women to welcome him, describing it as a remarkable display of cultural heritage and discipline. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu and other dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony.
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