Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth around ₹13,430 crore in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The initiatives, covering key sectors such as roads, railways, energy, defence manufacturing, and industry, are aimed at boosting regional infrastructure and accelerating economic growth.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described Andhra Pradesh as a land of pride, culture, and innovation. He highlighted the rapid pace of development in the state, noting that Delhi and Amaravati are working together towards a shared vision of growth. He said the projects launched in Kurnool will open new avenues of employment and prosperity across Rayalaseema.
“Today, the world views India as the new manufacturing centre of the 21st century, with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat being the foundation of this success. Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a key contributor to the success of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
Major projects
Among the major initiatives, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a ₹2,880 crore power transmission project at Kurnool-III Pooling Station, and industrial areas at Orvakal and Kopparthy worth ₹4,920 crore. Together, these hubs are expected to attract over ₹21,000 crore in investments and create about one lakh jobs.
In the energy sector, Modi inaugurated the Srikakulam–Angul natural gas pipeline built by GAIL at a cost of ₹1,730 crore, and an Indian Oil LPG bottling plant in Chittoor with a daily capacity of 20,000 cylinders.
The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation Bharat Electronics Limited’s Advanced Night Vision Products Factory at Nimmaluru, established with an investment of ₹360 crore.
In the connectivity segment, he laid the foundation for the six-lane Sabbavaram–Sheelanagar Greenfield highway worth ₹960 crore and several road and railway projects totalling over ₹2,300 crore. These are expected to strengthen regional logistics and industrial linkages.
Big investment boost
During his address, the Prime Minister also lauded the $15 billion investment announced by Google in the state. “Today, the world is witnessing the speed and scale of progress in India and Andhra Pradesh”, he said.
Google will establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence Hub in Andhra Pradesh, featuring advanced AI infrastructure, data centres, and subsea gateway connectivity from Visakhapatnam. He said this would position the state as a global digital hub.
Modi also reiterated the government’s focus on citizen-centric and reform-driven governance, noting that a developed India can only be achieved through a developed Andhra Pradesh.
