High Court bench in Kurnool soon: CM

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has confirmed that a High Court bench will be set up in Kurnool soon as promised during the elections.
Speaking to the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Naidu said the Cabinet had already approved the proposal, and the resolution passed in the Assembly would be sent to the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the Union Government for further steps. He also assured that the offices of the Lokayukta and the Human Rights Commission would stay in Kurnool, putting to rest concerns about their possible relocation.
The Chief Minister emphasised the government’s commitment to the overall development of the State, particularly focusing on the North Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. He mentioned plans for further growth in cities like Visakhapatnam, Kurnool, and Tirupati. Naidu expressed disappointment that the state had not seen much progress in the past five years, blaming the “faulty policies” of the previous government, especially the proposal for three capitals. He reminded the Assembly that the TDP, even when in opposition, had always supported Amaravati as the capital.
Naidu further stated that true development would only happen under the TDP, citing the party’s past success in driving the state’s growth. He recalled the legacy of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, initiated important projects like the Telugu Ganga, Handri-Neeva, and Nagari-Galeru to bring Krishna River water to Rayalaseema.
The CM pointed out that ongoing river linking projects and the Polavaram project, which will help divert Godavari water to Rayalaseema, could be game-changers for agriculture and economic development.
He also mentioned the Gollapalli reservoir, which attracted the Kia Motors plant to Anantapur, transforming the region’s industrial landscape.
Naidu highlighted the potential for horticulture growth, noting the strategic locations of Anantapur near Bengaluru airport, Kurnool near Hyderabad airport, and Chittoor near Chennai airport, which offer great development opportunities. He also mentioned the growth of airports in Orvakallu, Tirupati, and the expansion of Tirupati airport under the TDP government, positioning the state for more infrastructure growth.
In terms of education, the CM announced that Tirupati would be developed as an education hub, with new institutions such as an IIT, IIIT, and a Central University in Anantapur. He also revealed plans to revive subsidies for drip irrigation to boost agricultural productivity in Rayalaseema.
Naidu criticized the previous government for not taking sufficient steps to promote the region’s development and reminded the Assembly about the TDP’s contributions, such as the establishment of industrial parks at Orvakallu and Kopparthy with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore.
Finally, the CM announced plans to set up a drone hub in Orvakallu, with 300 acres allocated for the project. He concluded by stating that steps are being taken to develop Kurnool into one of the top cities in the state.