According to Lokesh, the Prime Minister’s visit will focus on the launch of several high-impact projects aimed at boosting infrastructure, energy, and transportation in the region. The most significant announcements include the foundation stone laying for a ₹70,000-crore green energy project by NTPC, a bulk drug park at Nakkapalli, and a major development under the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Economic Corridor at Krishnapatnam. Modi will also formally inaugurate a series of road projects worth ₹3,900 crore, which are expected to enhance connectivity in the region.
Lokesh placed particular emphasis on the establishment of the Visakhapatnam Railway Zone headquarters, a project that has been long delayed. He attributed the hold-up to the previous government’s failure to allocate land for the project, but expressed confidence that with the current coalition government’s efforts, the railway zone headquarters would finally begin to take shape. Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone for the railway zone headquarters and inaugurate a number of other railway development projects across the state.
Commenting on Modi’s first visit to Visakhapatnam since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power, Lokesh assured that the Prime Minister would receive a warm and grand welcome. He highlighted the coalition government’s commitment to restoring the state’s development trajectory, which he claimed had been derailed under the leadership of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Lokesh accused the previous administration of neglecting progress and failing to create meaningful employment opportunities for the youth of Uttarandhra.
“The YSRCP government was a fake government that failed to deliver on its promises for five years. It left the state in disarray, without focusing on real development,” said Lokesh.
The Minister also credited the coalition government for bringing in leading IT companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to Visakhapatnam, and for successfully acquiring land for the expansion of the city’s airport. He claimed that under the previous YSRCP regime, many companies were driven away, while now, with the NDA government at the helm, major firms like Google and TCS are finding their way to Andhra Pradesh.
In a scathing critique of the former government’s handling of resources, Lokesh questioned the future of the Rishikonda Palace, accusing the YSRCP of wasting ₹1,000 crore on a project that largely benefited a single individual. He argued that such financial mismanagement had hindered the state’s growth.
Lokesh also addressed the issue of volunteers, asserting that the previous YSRCP government had failed to formalize the roles and responsibilities of volunteers through official government orders (GOs). He claimed that 80% of volunteers had been forced to resign during the elections, allegedly under pressure from YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy.
As the Prime Minister’s visit draws closer, all eyes will be on the series of projects set to be inaugurated, which are expected to provide a much-needed boost to the region’s development and infrastructure.
