Metro India News | Hyderabad

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, concluded its meeting at the Secretariat on Friday with approvals for a series of welfare and development measures. Among nearly 20 agenda items discussed, the spotlight fell on accelerating the construction of the capital city Amaravati, a project the government is determined to position as a global hub.

In a major welfare step, the Cabinet approved the “Auto Driver Sevalo” scheme, which promises annual financial assistance of ₹15,000 to auto, taxi, and cab drivers. The programme, which seeks to provide relief to thousands of families struggling with economic hardships, will be formally launched on Saturday in Vijayawada. “Our government is committed to supporting every section of society. This assistance will give drivers confidence in their livelihoods,” the Chief Minister said.

The Cabinet’s most significant decision centered on Amaravati’s development. To speed up infrastructure works like roads, government complexes, and residential layouts, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be established. Officials said the SPV would make resource mobilization and project execution more streamlined.

“Building Amaravati as a world-class city requires speed and transparency. The SPV will ensure both,” Naidu told the Cabinet. Alongside this, the government approved the acquisition of lands outside the land pooling scheme under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, ensuring that no critical stretches are left behind in the capital region.

To attract investment in IT and biotech, the Cabinet cleared amendments to the LIFT Policy (Land Incentives for Technical Hubs) 2024-29, designed to encourage technology companies to establish hubs in the state. Officials said this would generate large-scale employment opportunities, especially for youth.

On the tourism front, the Cabinet approved the Caravan Tourism project to tap into unexplored segments of domestic travel and give a fresh push to Andhra’s tourism potential.

Preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on October 16, including his participation in an NDA rally at Kurnool, were also reviewed. Naidu directed ministers to organize over 60,000 awareness meetings across the state on the benefits of GST rate cuts. In addition, the Cabinet cleared new works under the Water Resources Department and development projects in 20 municipalities under the Amrut 2.0 scheme.