The Andhra Pradesh government, in a significant move to accelerate development, has approved a series of major infrastructure and policy decisions focused on the state capital region and beyond. The cabinet meeting, held on Monday, gave its nod to critical projects worth thousands of crores, including a substantial loan for Amaravati's development and the construction of a landmark technology centre.
Major Financial and Infrastructure Boost for Amaravati
At the heart of the decisions is a massive ₹7,387.70 crore loan from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) dedicated to infrastructure works in the capital city of Amaravati. This infusion of funds is expected to significantly speed up ongoing and planned projects in the region.
Further bolstering Amaravati's infrastructure, the cabinet approved awarding the contract for constructing a flood pumping station to the L-1 bidder. This project falls under a development programme financed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), ensuring international standards and expertise.
In a move positioning Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of technological innovation, the cabinet cleared the award of a contract to engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for building the Amaravati Quantum Computing Centre (AQCC) buildings. This centre is poised to become a hub for cutting-edge research and development in quantum technologies.
Key Policy Decisions and Urban Development Projects
The cabinet also addressed broader state-wide development and policy reforms. A notable decision is the approval for the introduction of a 10% road safety cess on the life tax collected from motor vehicles. The government plans to promulgate an ordinance to implement this cess, aimed at generating dedicated funds for improving road safety across the state.
Substantial urban infrastructure projects received the green light, including a ₹1,673 crore project for underground drainage and sewage treatment in the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli municipal corporation area. This project will be executed under the hybrid annuity model, a public-private partnership framework.
In a relief measure for citizens, the cabinet approved an exemption from stamp duty and registration fees for 2,457 beneficiaries under the Settipalli land pooling scheme in Tirupati. This decision is estimated to have a revenue impact of ₹16.25 crore but will provide significant financial relief to the beneficiaries.
Land Allocations and Strategic Approvals
A series of strategic land allocations and reviews were part of the cabinet's agenda. The cabinet cleared a review of land allocations in the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) area based on recommendations from a group of ministers.
Specific land leases and transfers approved include:
- Leasing 9.96 acres of government land in Nuzividu, Eluru district, for 33 years to the horticulture and sericulture department for establishing the Indian Institute of Plantation Management.
- Renewing a three-year lease of 9.88 acres in Katrenikona, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, for Vedanta's onshore drilling activities.
- Transferring 28.37 acres in Daminedu village, Tirupati district, to the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh for the development of a sports city.
Other significant clearances involve proposals for establishing a greenfield port and shipbuilding cluster at Duggarajupatnam and the acquisition of 418.14 acres in Damavaram village for the Dagadarthi greenfield airport.
In a welfare-oriented decision, the cabinet approved a waiver of ₹41.61 crore in interest for 11,479 beneficiaries under the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). To improve fiscal management and enable additional borrowing linked to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) performance, the cabinet also approved the implementation of prepaid smart metering across all government departments.
