Telugu Desam Party (TDP) State president Palla Srinivasa Rao on Sunday (February 01) said that the Union Budget 2026 is not merely a statement of accounts but a policy document that charts India’s economic direction.
“With its integrated focus on green energy, semiconductors, biopharma, artificial intelligence, data centres, tourism and agriculture, the budget places Andhra Pradesh under the leadership and long-term vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, at the centre of the country’s growth narrative,” he opined.
Highlighting the implications for Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that ₹12.2 lakh crore allocation for public capital expenditure, along with proposals for new freight corridors, expansion of inland waterways and promotion of seaplane services, would significantly strengthen the State’s logistics ecosystem and port-led growth strategy.
The focus on the Visakhapatnam–Kakinada port corridor, aligns with Mr. Naidu’s long-standing vision of positioning A.P. as a critical gateway for global and regional trade, particularly with Southeast Asia, he added.
The allocation of ₹3,320 crore for the Polavaram irrigation project underlines the Centre’s recognition of the project’s strategic importance, he said.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao described the identification of ‘A.P. as a Rare Earth Minerals corridor’ as a strategically significant decision. The move is expected to attract investments in mining, processing, research, and value addition, while reducing India’s dependence on critical imports.
The proposed establishment of three chemical parks and the emphasis on plug-and-play industrial infrastructure, he said, would further strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s manufacturing ecosystem.
The allocation of ₹40,000 crore for electronics components manufacturing and the rollout of Semiconductor India Mission 2.0 are expected to benefit established clusters such as Sri City, he said. He also added that ₹10,000 crore Bio-Pharma Shakti initiative, would accelerate India’s efforts to emerge as a global biologics hub while providing fresh momentum to Visakhapatnam’s pharma and life sciences sector, a domain consistently prioritised by the Chief Minister.
The proposals to develop eco-friendly mountain circuits in the Araku Valley and bird-watching trails around Pulicat Lake reflect a shift towards sustainable tourism, balancing environmental conservation with employment generation, he said.
The Gajuwaka MLA also said that in the fisheries sector, the development of 500 reservoirs and strengthening of coastal value chains would further consolidate A.P.’s position as the country’s leading marine food exporter. Allocations of ₹5,000 crore per city over five years for City Economic Regions in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are expected to transform Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam into regional growth centres.
Published – February 01, 2026 08:04 pm IST
