CM Naidu thanks Centre

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the construction of a new railway line between Errupalem and Namburu via Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, spanning 57 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 2,245 crore.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, briefing the media in New Delhi on Thursday, said this project will provide direct rail connectivity to Amaravati, the proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh, and traverse through the NTR Vijayawada and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh, as well as the Khammam district in Telangana. The line is expected to enhance mobility for both people and industrial goods, supporting the state’s infrastructure and economic growth.
The project is part of a broader initiative to expand the Indian Railways network and improve connectivity in the region. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for approving the Amaravati rail line project and urged its completion within three years.
Speaking to the media at the State Secretariat on Thursday, Naidu highlighted that the proposed rail line, spanning 57 km and estimated to cost Rs 2,245 crore, would connect Amaravati with major cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
He emphasised that this rail connectivity would interlink Amaravati with other capitals across the country.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need for the 3.2 km rail bridge across the Krishna River to become an iconic structure, reflecting Amaravati’s rapid development. He envisioned Amaravati becoming one of the best cities in the country. Naidu acknowledged the Centre’s ongoing assistance for rebuilding Amaravati and noted that railway projects worth Rs 72,000 crore, including station modernisation, are progressing across Andhra Pradesh.
“We have resolved the long-pending issue of the railway zone. The foundation for the Amaravati rail project will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likely in November or December,” Naidu said. He assured that the state’s matching grant would be released on time and mentioned discussing Amaravati’s rail connectivity with the Prime Minister during a recent visit to New Delhi.
Naidu affirmed that the State would fully cooperate in land acquisition for the project and welcomed the Centre’s approval for upgrading the Ranasthalam-Srikakulam highway to a four-lane road. He announced the formation of a task force to address issues related to Roads and Buildings, Forest, and other departments and underlined the need for eight-lane highways across the State.
On other development fronts, the Chief Minister reiterated his government’s decision to provide sand free of cost to the public and builders, and committed to supplying irrigation water to every acre by interlinking rivers. He also announced plans to introduce a new water policy soon. Naidu pointed to the national discussion on the drone summit recently held in Vijayawada and noted that the IT and Electronics Minister is working on implementing WhatsApp-based governance.
Taking a jab at YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu stated that the people of Andhra Pradesh are focusing on the current government’s developmental efforts while remembering the damage caused during the previous regime. He criticized the secrecy of numerous Government Orders (GOs) issued during Jagan’s time and questioned how Jagan had accumulated substantial wealth since 2004, asking where the “lakhs of crores” came from.
Naidu also condemned the previous regime for harassing citizens over unpaid garbage tax and pointed out that while he was restricted from moving freely for five years, his government allowed Jagan to move freely across the State.