■   Goes all out for Andhra in Delhi tour

■   Data cities, ports, highways and jobs on agenda

metro india news  I hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, held a series of key meetings with Union Ministers in New Delhi, seeking central support for the state’s ambitious development plans spanning technology, infrastructure, industry, and agriculture.

In his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Lokesh sought cooperation for setting up a Data City and an AI Centre of Excellence in Visakhapatnam. He highlighted that such initiatives would equip Andhra Pradesh youth with soft skills and global employability. Stressing the welfare of migrant workers, he urged the expansion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana and the establishment of a dedicated grievance redressal cell in the state. He also shared details of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu-led delegation’s recent visit to Singapore, emphasizing that international partnerships were crucial for the state’s development.

Lokesh also met BJP National President J.P. Nadda and urged immediate allocation of urea to address shortages during the kharif season. Nadda assured that 29,000 metric tonnes would be dispatched to the state by August 21. 

Lokesh further requested support for a Plastic Park to generate local employment and for the establishment of a permanent campus of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Visakhapatnam.

In his talks with Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Lokesh pressed for expediting the BPCL Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex at Ramayapatnam. The Rs.95,000 crore project is expected to create 5,000 direct jobs and position Andhra Pradesh as a major petrochemical hub. Lokesh also sought integration of the state’s Deepam-2 scheme with PM Ujjwala Yojana to strengthen LPG access for poor families.

Road connectivity featured prominently in Lokesh’s meeting with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. He requested immediate approval for widening the Kanuru–Machilipatnam road into six lanes to ease Vijayawada’s traffic congestion. He also pushed for inclusion of Amaravati linkages in NH-65 expansion and sought fast approvals for the proposed Kuppam–Hosur–Bengaluru greenfield highway.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was personally greeted by Lokesh on her birthday, where he thanked the Centre for its continued fiscal support to Andhra Pradesh and urged cooperation for upcoming state projects.

Discussions with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal focused on accelerating the long-pending Dugarajapatnam Port and shipbuilding cluster, expected to bring over Rs.26,000 crore investments and thousands of jobs to Nellore district.

Lokesh also met Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, thanking him for sanctioning a semiconductor manufacturing unit to Andhra Pradesh. He sought further support for Amaravati’s proposed Quantum Valley and the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, requesting financial assistance and national-level recognition. Presenting Andhra Pradesh’s innovation ecosystem through a detailed presentation, Lokesh positioned the state as a frontrunner in quantum technology, AI, and digital governance.