Overview: On a ceremonial visit to North Andhra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated development works worth around ₹18,000 crore. The projects span an airport named after Alluri Sitarama Raju, a semiconductor plant, new ports, highways, rail upgrades and several energy‑security initiatives. The address highlighted the role of the NDA Government in accelerating the "Swarna Andhra" vision.
Key Developments
- Inauguration of a new airport on the historic land of Alluri Sitarama Raju, to be named after him.
- Foundation stone laid for a semiconductor plant in Visakhapatnam.
- Launch of projects under the UDAN scheme with a second‑phase funding of ₹29,000 crore.
- Modernisation of existing ports (Visakhapatnam, Krishnapatnam) and construction of new ports at Mulapeta and Ramayapatnam as part of the Blue Economy drive.
- Road and expressway projects including the Visakhapatnam‑Raipur Expressway.
- Railway upgrades worth about ₹1 lakh crore, complete electrification and modernisation of 70+ stations.
- Implementation of the PM Gati Shakti framework in the region.
- Investment in AI infrastructure and a $15 billion Google cloud campus.
Important Facts
The airport will serve as a tribute to tribal hero Alluri Sitarama Raju and is expected to boost tourism and trade. The semiconductor plant aims to make Andhra a hub for high‑tech manufacturing, complementing the