Chief Minister Naidu directed that district-level officials in the newly formed districts should be granted full autonomy, regardless of their previous roles in combined districts

metro india news  I hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said during the second and final day of the District Collectors’ Conference here on Wednesday that Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Amaravati, and Anantapur will serve as power hubs that will witness unprecedented growth and urged the district collectors create and execute strategic plans for their respective zones, the state will experience unprecedented progress.

To ensure proper execution, a senior officer has been assigned to each zone, and every district has been given an in-charge minister. These officials are required to hold in-depth discussions on district-specific development strategies and their implementation at the ground level. Starting next month, senior officers will conduct on-site visits for three to four days every month to assess real-time issues and make data-driven decisions.

In a significant policy move, Chief Minister Naidu directed that district-level officials in the newly formed districts should be granted full autonomy, regardless of their previous roles in combined districts. Chairing the third District Collectors’ Conference, he stressed that these officers must be allowed to function independently without interference.

To ensure smooth administration, the Chief Minister instructed Heads of Departments (HoDs) to issue necessary guidelines within the next two days. Additionally, he directed district collectors to regulate staffing to address workforce shortages, ensuring resource allocation is based on workload.

Recognizing the importance of infrastructure in emerging districts, Naidu also emphasized the need for a minimum of three hotels in each district headquarters. He urged officers to focus on enhancing basic amenities across all newly formed districts.

Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinakar highlighted the region’s growing demand for chemical engineers due to its booming pharmaceutical industry. Presenting a progress report at the District Collectors’ Conference, he mentioned that the district is witnessing rapid industrialization in the pharma sector, creating a shortage of skilled professionals.

“To address this demand, we have introduced diploma courses in chemical engineering at the local polytechnic college,” said Dinakar. He further stated that efforts are being made to boost the district’s per capita income, with a target of achieving Rs. 1.85 lakh per capita income for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Vizianagaram District Collector B.R. Ambedkar reported that construction work on the Bhogapuram International Airport is 70% complete. During his presentation at the conference, he outlined strategic initiatives, including the establishment of a mango cluster zone to leverage the district’s agricultural strengths.

The district administration is also ensuring adequate sand supply for the airport construction, which requires four lakh metric tonnes of sand. Additionally, a five-star hotel is being planned near the airport to enhance tourism and business prospects. To meet the airport’s future water requirements, the administration is expediting the completion of the Tarakarama project, which will supply 5 MLD of water daily. In a pioneering move, Vizianagaram will equip every police station with a drone to enhance surveillance and security operations.

Parvathipuram Manyam District Collector Shyam Prasad announced an ambitious plan to eliminate the use of ‘dolis’ (makeshift stretchers) in the district, ensuring proper road connectivity to remote tribal villages. He acknowledged that several tribal hamlets currently rely on dolis due to the lack of motorable roads and assured that infrastructure projects are being expedited.

“Our goal is to provide road access to habitations with at least 250 residents. We have devised a comprehensive plan to ensure that no village remains disconnected,” Prasad said during his presentation at the conference.

In addition to improving road infrastructure, the district is promoting kandi (pulse) cultivation and has introduced lemon plantations across 1,000 acres to boost agricultural income. The administration is focused on raising the district’s per capita income through strategic economic interventions.

With district-wise progress now being systematically reviewed at the state level, the Andhra Pradesh government aims to accelerate regional development, empower officials with autonomy, and implement localized strategies to drive economic growth. The new initiatives, backed by the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, reflect a commitment to structured governance and holistic progress across all districts.