Andhra Pradesh IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh met several Union ministers on Monday to push for accelerated development projects, including a ₹3,000 crore greenfield highway and urgent urea allocation for farmers. His meetings underscored Andhra’s “double-engine” governance model, leveraging Central and state collaboration to drive progress.
In discussions with Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister J.P. Nadda, Lokesh addressed the severe urea shortage during the Kharif season, securing a commitment for 29,000 metric tonnes by August 21. He also proposed a Plastic Park to boost local industry and jobs, alongside a permanent campus for the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Visakhapatnam, with 100 acres already identified.
Meeting Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Lokesh sought fast-track approvals for the 56-km Kuppam-Hosur-Bengaluru greenfield highway, a ₹3,000 crore project linking to the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway. Described as a “game-changer” for the Kuppam-Bengaluru-Chennai industrial corridor, it aims to enhance regional connectivity. He also pushed for widening NH-65 (Kanuru-Machilipatnam, 59.8 km) to connect Amaravati and Hyderabad, noting its completed project report and in-principle approval. Urban mobility projects included integrated double-decker flyovers with metro corridors along NH-16, featuring a 20-km elevated corridor in Visakhapatnam and a 4.7-km stretch in Vijayawada, plus a 50-km Vijayawada Eastern Bypass to ease traffic.
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With Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Lokesh advocated for the ₹95,000 crore BPCL refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Ramayapatnam, Nellore, a promise under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Spanning 6,000 acres, it is expected to create over 5,000 jobs and bolster maritime infrastructure. He also highlighted the Deepam 2.0 scheme, which provides free LPG cylinders, seeking integration with the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for broader reach.
In talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Lokesh emphasized Andhra’s 3.5 million-strong diaspora across 130 countries, including 1 million in the US with a per capita income of $126,000, surpassing the American average of $70,000. He sought support for global skills conclaves, overseas training infrastructure, and an AI Centre of Excellence and Data City in Visakhapatnam to attract investment in IT and innovation.
Lokesh also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, thanking her for financial support to the coalition government and briefing her on Andhra’s progress over the past 14 months. He urged backing for new projects, including the Polavaram Project and Amaravati’s development as the state capital.
The meetings reflect Andhra’s aggressive push for industrialization and infrastructure, leveraging its strategic coastal position and diaspora to drive economic growth.
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