Foundation Stone Laid for Transformative Infrastructure Projects
Spiritual and Cultural Homage
Reciting a verse from the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram—”Saurashtre Somnatham cha Srisaila Mallikarjunam”—Shri Modi highlighted the sacred connection between Lord Somnath and Lord Mallikarjuna among the twelve Jyotirlingas. “It is my fortune to have been born on the sacred land of Somnath in Gujarat, to have served the land of Baba Vishwanath in Kashi, and now to receive the blessings of Srisailam,” said the Prime Minister.
Following his visit to Srisailam, PM Modi paid tribute at the Sree Shivaji Spoorthi Kendra and bowed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He offered salutations to revered Shaivite saints like Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi, and paid homage to freedom fighters including Shri Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Garu and Shri Hari Sarvottama Rao.
Andhra Pradesh: Land of Pride, Culture, and Innovation
“Andhra Pradesh is a land of ‘Swabhimaan’ (pride) and ‘Sanskriti’ (culture), and also a hub of science and innovation,” affirmed PM Modi, emphasizing the state’s limitless potential and the boundless capabilities of its youth. He noted that with visionary leadership from Chandrababu Naidu Garu and Pawan Kalyan Garu, backed by Central Government support, Andhra Pradesh is witnessing unprecedented progress.
Energy Security and Power Sector Revolution
Emphasizing energy security as crucial for development, PM Modi launched a transmission project worth ₹3,000 crore to enhance India’s energy capacity. He recalled that eleven years ago, per capita electricity consumption was below 1,000 units with frequent blackouts, but today India sets records in clean and total energy production, with electricity reaching every village and per capita consumption rising to 1,400 units.
Andhra Pradesh is at the forefront of India’s energy revolution. Key initiatives include:
- Srikakulam–Angul Natural Gas Pipeline by GAIL, serving 15 lakh households
- LPG Bottling Plant in Chittoor with 20,000 cylinders daily capacity, creating jobs in transport and storage
Multi-Modal Connectivity and Infrastructure Development
“Multi-modal infrastructure is developing rapidly across the country, focusing on connectivity from villages to cities and cities to ports,” stated PM Modi. Major projects include:
Road Infrastructure
- Six-lane Greenfield Highway from Sabbavaram to Sheelanagar (₹960 crore)
- Six road projects worth ₹1,140 crore, including four-laning and bypasses
Railway Modernization
- Kottavalasa-Vizianagaram Fourth Railway Line
- Rail Flyover between Pendurti and Simhachalam North
- Doubling of key railway sections worth over ₹1,200 crore
Industrial Corridors and Manufacturing Revolution
PM Modi laid foundation stones for Orvakal and Kopparthy Industrial Areas with ₹4,920 crore investment, expected to attract ₹21,000 crore and generate 1 lakh jobs. These modern hubs feature plug-and-play infrastructure under the walk-to-work concept.
“Today, the world views India as the new manufacturing center of the 21st century, with Aatmanirbhar Bharat as its foundation,” exclaimed the Prime Minister. Key manufacturing initiatives include:
- Advanced Night Vision Factory in Nimmaluru by Bharat Electronics Limited (₹360 crore)
- Development of Kurnool as India’s Drone Hub
Google’s AI Revolution in Andhra Pradesh
Highlighting global recognition, PM Modi announced Google’s establishment of India’s first Artificial Intelligence Hub in Andhra Pradesh, featuring advanced AI infrastructure, data centers, and an International Subsea Gateway at Visakhapatnam. This positions the state as a global connectivity hub.
Citizen-Centric Reforms and Ease of Living
Reiterating the vision of citizen-centric development, PM Modi highlighted reforms like:
- Income up to ₹12 lakh completely tax-free
- Significant GST reductions during Navratri
- Affordable medicines and Ayushman cards for seniors
- GST Bachat Utsav expected to save ₹8,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh citizens
Vision for Developed India by 2047
PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to becoming a developed nation by 2047, with Andhra Pradesh’s Swarna Andhra vision energizing this resolve. “The dream of a developed India will be realized through a developed Andhra Pradesh,” he concluded.
Dignitaries Present
The event was attended by Governor Shri Syed Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, and other dignitaries.