Budget 2024: Here's the wish list for Andhra Pradesh, TDP chief Naidu tells PM Modi, Sitharaman – Budget 2024 News

With a long wish list for his state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu spent two days in the country's capital to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several Cabinet ministers.

After winning a landslide victory in the recent assembly elections and becoming the second largest NDA constituency in the Lok Sabha, this is the first time that Naidu is meeting Union ministers to discuss issues concerning his state.

According to an official statement, the meeting dealt with crucial issues like financial assistance and infrastructure development. One of Naidu's key priorities was the Polavaram project, a major national irrigation initiative critical to the agriculture sector in Andhra Pradesh, as he pushed for expedited support for the commissioning of this crucial project.

Naidu also demanded an “additional allocation” under the scheme designed to provide special assistance to states for capital investments in critical sectors like roads, bridges, irrigation and drinking water projects. He also pitched for support to economically backward regions in Andhra Pradesh, similar to the Bundelkhand scheme.

Naidu also met Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and 16th Finance Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya.

On the state's fiscal situation, the chief minister said, “Andhra Pradesh continues to struggle with the repercussions of the unscientific, unfair and inequitable bifurcation of 2014.” Naidu also sought short-term financial assistance from the Centre, citing “indiscriminate borrowing” and “large-scale diversion of funds” by the previous YSRCP government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as reasons for the current resource crunch.

Chandrababu Naidus' Wish List: Here's What He Searched For

By Amit Shah

– Demand of Rs 385 crore for land acquisition to establish a Greyhound training centre for the anti-Maoist force.
– Rs 27.54 crore sought for operational costs.
-Advocated for increasing the number of IPS officers from 79 to 117.

By Nitin Gadkari

-Called for the implementation of several road projects, including a new highway connecting Hyderabad and Amaravati.

By Piyush Goyal

-Launched a call for grants to develop essential external infrastructure such as industrial water supply, electricity and rail and road connectivity.

By Shivraj Singh Chouhan

-Request for support for the creation of an integrated water park.
-Requested the release of central funds pending for agricultural assistance under various programs.

By Manohar Lal Khattar

– Urged to expedite the process of approval of a power transmission line from Kurnool to Vizag.
-Proposed plans to transform Vizag-Kakinada into a green hydrogen manufacturing hub.

Speaking to Hardeep Singh Puri, Naidu stressed the need to accelerate infrastructure development to make Vizag-Kakinada a hub for green hydrogen production.

Naidu meets Sitharaman with his wish list

The TDP chief met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday to seek more financial support for the debt-ridden state. His meeting with Sitharaman assumes special significance as she will present the Budget 2024-25 on July 23 in the Lok Sabha.

According to the Andhra Pradesh state government data, the government debt as a percentage of the state's gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 31.02 per cent in the financial year 2019-20 to 33.32 per cent in the financial year 2023-24. This increase indicates a deterioration in the state's fiscal health over the last five years.

His main demands included funding the Polavaram irrigation project, aid to underdeveloped areas and assistance in the advancement of Amaravati, the new capital.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister JP Nadda.