Sribharat outlines AP’s development vision in Parl

During his address in the Parliament on Monday, MP M Sribharat expressed his gratitude for the Union Government’s allocation of Rs 15,000 crore in the 2024-25 budget for Andhra Pradesh’s capital development, which will support key projects like the Polavaram irrigation initiative and industrial nodes at Kopparthy and Orvakal.  “Under the visionary leadership of our Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, we have successfully relaunched construction efforts for our mega-capital city,” Sribharat stated. “This plan aims to complete key roads within a year and major capital buildings by 2028. We are closely monitoring these projects to ensure they stay on track.”
Focusing on the Polavaram project, vital for agricultural development, Sribharat reiterated the March 2028 completion target, acknowledging past delays and cost escalations. “To develop our capital effectively, we estimate that around Rs 60,000 crore will be necessary. Therefore, additional support from the Centre will be essential to overcome these hurdles,” he explained.
Sribharat also commended the Union Government’s allocation of Rs 1,650 crore from the contingency fund to revitalise Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). “As of December 14, two of the three blast furnaces are operational, exceeding their rated capacities—this is a promising sign for the future of our steel plant,” he proudly announced. He emphasised the need for timely salary payments for RINL’s workforce, adding, “The infusion of funds has allowed us to restart an additional blast furnace that had been inactive for several months, and we hope for continued progress.”
Turning to the footwear industry, Sribharat advocated for increased research and development. “During my recent interaction with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, I emphasised the urgent need for increased research in the footwear sector,” he said, stressing the lack of an Indian sizing system and urging separate funding under the Footwear, Leather and Accessories Development Programme (FLADP).