CM meets host of Union Ministers

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh held meetings with several Union Ministers during his visit to New Delhi on Tuesday. He met Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industries; HD Kumaraswamy, Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries; and Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, discussing multiple priority issues for the state.
In his meeting with Minister Gadkari, the Chief Minister focused on the overall development of National and State Highways in Andhra Pradesh. Key discussions included the development of the Vijayawada Eastern Bypass, support for State Highway improvements through Government of India grants, and fast-tracking the Kuppam-Hosur Greenfield Project to ensure timely completion. He also highlighted the need for the Mulapeta to Vizag greenfield coastal highway project, addressing restrictions on access to Bhogapuram Airport, and resolving choke points by constructing elevated structures that integrate flyovers and metro services. Additionally, he proposed upgrading the Hyderabad-Vijayawada expressway from 4 to 8 lanes to manage high traffic and reduce accidents, as well as developing a greenfield express highway from Hyderabad to Amaravati and an Outer Ring Road (ORR) for the Amaravati capital region. The Minister assured his commitment to fast-tracking these projects to enhance Andhra Pradesh’s connectivity and economic growth.
During his meeting with Minister Goyal, the Chief Minister discussed the formation of a joint committee involving the Government of Andhra Pradesh, DPIIT, and the Ministry of Shipping to expedite the transfer of salt land for project development within a defined timeframe.
They also addressed the expedited development of industrial parks by NICDIT and the need for sectoral policies to attract investment. The Minister assured that he would consider the discussed issues and support Andhra Pradesh in achieving its developmental vision.
In the meeting with Minister Kumaraswamy, the Chief Minister focused on the growth of the steel sector in the state. The Secretary of Steel briefed him on the challenges faced by RINL, including raw material availability, loan repayment, and the need for capital investment for effective capacity utilisation. The Minister mentioned the Government of India’s efforts to sustain RINL through financial infusion. The Chief Minister requested that the Government of India identify ways to support RINL and ensure its operational sustainability. The Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries assured his commitment to considering the revival of RINL and supporting the industrial landscape in Andhra Pradesh.
Lastly, during his meeting with Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the Chief Minister discussed the sanctioning of 6.5 million Deepam connections under the PM Ujjwala Yojana and the need to expedite the grounding of the BPCL refinery in the state. The Minister assured his commitment to considering the state government’s requests and providing appropriate support.