Andhra’s Urban Leap: The Push for Vizag & Vijayawada Metro

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently met Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi to seek the Centre’s approval for the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada Metro Rail projects.

During the meeting, Naidu informed the Union Minister that the revised Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for both metro systems have already been submitted and emphasised that early approval is crucial to fast-track development in two of the state’s fastest-growing urban centres. He underscored the importance of modern and sustainable urban mobility solutions, noting that metro connectivity in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada would help ease traffic congestion, improve productivity, enhance mobility for citizens, and support long-term economic growth. The Chief Minister urged the Centre to prioritise and expedite the approval process so that groundwork for the projects can begin at the earliest.

As part of his visit to New Delhi, CM Naidu also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and sought financial support under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for the development of Rayalaseema as a horticulture hub. In a post on X, he said that with support from Central initiatives such as Purvodaya, Andhra Pradesh has the potential to emerge as a major growth engine for eastern India, and requested SASCI funding along with Central budgetary assistance to accelerate the state’s long-term economic development.

Additionally, the Chief Minister met Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri to review the progress of the BPCL Greenfield Refinery Project in Nellore. He also extended an invitation to the Union Minister to attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the refinery, highlighting the state’s commitment to advancing key industrial and infrastructure projects.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.