PPP projects to drive AP’s infrastructure growth: CM Naidu
Amaravati, July 16 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said projects implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support would play a key role in the state’s future infrastructure development.
Reviewing the status of PPP projects and government investments, the Chief Minister said India had moved from an era of economic reforms to one of infrastructure-led growth and stressed that PPP projects offered the best opportunity to accelerate development across multiple sectors.
He directed officials to ensure all PPP projects were developed on sustainable models with adequate scope for economic activity and asked them to effectively utilise Central government support mechanisms, including the Urban Challenge Fund.
He also called for creating an efficient institutional mechanism to manage ports, airports and other major infrastructure assets.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that the state was implementing 260 PPP projects across sectors including ports, shipyards, airports, tourism and infrastructure.
Projects worth Rs.1.23 lakh crore are at various stages of implementation in industries, urban development, tourism, medical education, roads and solar power.
Naidu directed officials to make local fishermen stakeholders in coastal tourism projects to ensure they directly benefited from such initiatives.
He also asked them to develop public infrastructure and economic activity zones around 21 major temples across the state.
Officials said the Centre had sanctioned Rs.178 crore as Viability Gap Funding for waste-to-energy plants at Vijayawada and Tirupati, while Rs.1,468 crore in VGF was expected for medical colleges.
They added that the Department of Economic Affairs had appreciated Andhra Pradesh’s PPP model for establishing medical colleges.
The Chief Minister directed officials to place the Andhra Pradesh Public-Private Partnership–VGF Policy 1.0 before the next Cabinet meeting and issue detailed implementation guidelines at the earliest.
He also asked them to study successful PPP frameworks adopted by the Central government.
According to officials, Andhra Pradesh could attract Rs.8 lakh crore in annual investments through PPP projects under the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision, with major investments expected in the Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati Economic Regions.
Naidu said all projects should align with the objectives of the Swarna Andhra Vision and stressed the need to identify implementation gaps and capitalise on emerging opportunities.
He said supplying water to industries could generate revenue for the Water Resources Department and noted that irrigation associations would have a role in the process.
The Chief Minister directed all departments to prepare comprehensive financial plans with short-, medium- and long-term revenue strategies and ensure PPP projects inspired investor confidence.
He said Andhra Pradesh should strive to secure a first-mover advantage in emerging sectors.
He also instructed officials to monetise idle government assets, examine the commercial utilisation of government land at bus stations, and promote pumped storage and solar power projects under the PPP model.
He said sectors such as mining, tourism, logistics and NEDCAP offered significant revenue potential.
Naidu further said the government was working to double the number of students in SC, ST, BC and Minority residential hostels and directed officials to prepare an action plan for establishing integrated residential schools as mini townships with good road connectivity.
The Chief Minister said the objective was to transform students from weaker sections into highly skilled professionals capable of securing admission to premier institutions such as the IITs and IIMs.
TNT KM
