Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu embarked on a two-day visit to Delhi to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various Union ministers. During his trip, he paid a visit to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, where he was warmly welcomed by Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu. Ram Mohan Naidu revealed that Andhra Pradesh (AP) is set to double its airport network from seven to 14. The Chief Minister of AP expressed a need for expanding the terminal capacity and enhancing airport facilities in Rajamahendravaram, Vijayawada, and Kadapa. The Union Minister assured that with the provision of land, the Union government would extend its support for the establishment of new airports, including proposed locations in Srikakulam, Dagadarthi, Kuppam, and Nagarjunasagar.
Furthermore, discussions between Ram Mohan Naidu and the AP Chief Minister also touched upon the transformation of Puttaparti airport into a government entity, as part of Chandrababu Naidu’s vision to position AP as a key logistics hub with new airports playing a pivotal role in this strategic development. Atul Bhatt, the Chairman and Managing Director of RINL overseeing the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, conveyed his appreciation to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for extending the lease of the Garbham Manganese mines in Merakamudidam mandal, Vizianagaram district. This lease extension holds great significance for RINL, ensuring a steady supply of manganese ore crucial for production.
Bhatt also expressed gratitude to Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao and Lok Sabha member M. Sri Bharat for their unwavering support. The lease area of the Garbham manganese mine spans 654 acres, with RINL utilizing around 6,000 tonnes annually, underscoring the critical role of manganese in hot metal production within blast furnaces. This lease extension underscores the importance of collaboration between industry and government in fostering economic progress.
On a separate note, trade union leader Varasala Srinivasa Rao voiced disappointment among workers regarding Chief Minister Naidu’s silence on the issue of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) privatization, despite multiple meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rao emphasized the urgent need for the Chief Minister to prioritize the continuity of VSP in the public sector, ensuring the uninterrupted supply of raw materials essential for production, as the plant faces imminent challenges. He highlighted the visit of Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to the steel plant, where promises were made to streamline raw material supplies for normal production by NMDC, yet no action has been taken. Rao stressed the dwindling stock of raw materials and the critical need for immediate measures to safeguard blast furnaces, with one furnace already halted and reduced production in another, signaling a pressing situation that demands attention.
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