PM Modi unveils projects worth over Rs 2 lakh crore in Visakhapatnam, says 'Centre giving special priority to Andhra Pradesh'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone and launched projects worth over Rs 2 lakh crore in Visakhapatnam, stating that the Union Government was working shoulder to shoulder with Andhra Pradesh to achieve every goal of the state.

Addressing a public meeting, PM Modi said that central government was giving special priority to Andhra Pradesh in projects worth lakhs of crores.

"It was after a gap of 60 years, with the blessings of the people, a Union Government was elected for the third time in a row in the country," he said, adding that officially, it was his first programme in Andhra Pradesh after the formation of the government and thanked the people for a grand welcome given to him during the roadshow prior to the event.

PM Modi further said that he respected the spirit of every word and feeling of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The Prime Minister expressed confidence in achieving all the goals mentioned by Naidu in his speech with the support of the people of Andhra Pradesh and India.

“Our Andhra Pradesh is a state of possibilities and opportunities”, said Modi.

He remarked that when these possibilities are realised, Andhra Pradesh will develop, and India will become a developed nation.

Modi highlighted that Andhra Pradesh had set a target to become a $2.5 trillion economy by 2047. He remarked that to realise this vision, the government of Chandrababu Naidu had initiated the ‘Swarna Andhra@2047’ initiative.

Highlighting that Andhra Pradesh, due to its innovative nature, is a significant hub for IT and technology, the Prime Minister remarked, "It is now time for Andhra Pradesh to become a center for futuristic technologies”.

He emphasised the importance of leading in emerging technologies, such as green hydrogen. Modi noted that the National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched in 2023, with a target of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.

He added that in the initial phase, two green hydrogen hubs would be established, one of which will be in Visakhapatnam. The Prime Minister stated that Visakhapatnam will be among the few cities globally with large-scale green hydrogen production facilities. He highlighted that this green hydrogen hub will create numerous job opportunities and develop a manufacturing ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh.

Modi remarked that he had the opportunity to lay the foundation stone for the bulk drug park project in Nakkapalli and highlighted that Andhra Pradesh was one of the three states in the country where such a park is being established.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the state-of-the-art NTPC Green Energy Limited Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, which is the first Green Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The project entails an investment of approx. Rs 1,85,000 Crore.