Centre pledges backing for AP in chips, AI; CM Naidu pushes for Amaravati–Vizag bullet rail
New Delhi, oct 24 (TNT): Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday assured Andhra Pradesh of comprehensive Central support to establish advanced semiconductor design units, R&D centers, specialized skill-training academies, and state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure across the state.
The commitment followed a bilateral meeting held in the national capital between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Vaishnaw, where the Chief Minister presented a sweeping multi-thousand-crore infrastructure wishlist aimed at fast-tracking pending railway works, approving Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and unleashing bottleneck-free freight movement.
During the discussions, Naidu formally urged the Centre to sanction a high-speed bullet rail corridor linking state capital Amaravati with the commercial port city of Visakhapatnam to form an industrial backbone for the region.
Acceding to a key economic demand, Vaishnaw greenlit plans to develop dedicated rail connectivity for nine strategic ports across the state, ensuring seamless multimodal freight linkages between port docks and domestic hinterlands, an official release stated.
Naidu laid out several high-priority railway infrastructure proposals requiring expedited Central clearances and funding, including:
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The Vijayawada Bypass Railway Line (estimated at ₹3,197 crore), featuring two new rail bridges across the Krishna river.
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The Kovvur–Bhadrachalam Railway Project (₹2,860 crore), proposed under a joint 50:50 cost-sharing model.
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The Anakapalli–Kothavalasa Bypass Line (₹2,190 crore) to decongest freight movement around Visakhapatnam.
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The Ongole–Donakonda Link (₹1,800 crore).
To address severe trunk-route congestion, the Chief Minister urged the Railway Board to lay quadruple lines on the vital Vijayawada–Itarsi and Kharagpur–Vijayawada transit routes within a targeted two-year deadline.
In a boost to regional rolling stock operations, the Railway Ministry agreed to develop two mega passenger coaching terminals — one in Visakhapatnam and another in Amaravati—alongside setting up regional administrative offices of premier railway Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) within the capital city.
On the passenger mobility front, Vaishnaw approved Naidu’s request to introduce an overnight Vande Bharat Sleeper express between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru via Tirupati, as well as a new daytime intercity train between Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.
The Chief Minister also sought the immediate roll-out of regular passenger services along the newly constructed Kanigiri–Vijayawada railway section.
Emphasising that port-led industrialization remains core to AP’s economic revival, Naidu asserted that integrated rail links would sharply bring down logistics costs, accelerate export-import turnover, and draw heavy industries to coastal corridors.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss pending state bifurcation commitments and developmental concerns.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu was present during the deliberations with Vaishnaw and Amit shah.
TNT KS
