Centre Assures Support to Andhra Pradesh for Semiconductor and AI Development

NEW DELHI — The Central Government has assured its backing for projects aimed at positioning Andhra Pradesh as a global hub for semiconductor design, research and development, skill training, and capacity building. The assurance was given by Union Minister for Railways and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw during a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in New Delhi on Saturday.

During the courtesy call, which was also attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, the discussions spanned various state development initiatives. Alongside semiconductor backing, Union Minister Vaishnaw assured cooperation with the state government's vision for artificial intelligence (AI) development and the creation of underlying AI infrastructure.

The Chief Minister utilized the visit to place several infrastructure proposals before the Centre, focusing primarily on expanding the state's railway network. Mr. Naidu urged the Centre to expedite pending railway projects, approve Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for pending works, and release necessary funds. He also requested the establishment of a high-speed rail corridor between Amaravati and Visakhapatnam and proposed setting up offices of railway public sector undertakings in Amaravati.

Addressing logistical needs for trade and transit, the Union Minister approved the required railway connectivity for nine ports to improve freight movement from the state's ports to hinterland areas. Mr. Naidu proposed strengthening railway connectivity to both the eastern and western parts of the country to facilitate smoother cargo movement.

Additionally, the meeting addressed several passenger transport requests. The Centre agreed to the establishment of two major coaching terminals, one each in Visakhapatnam and Amaravati. The Union Minister also agreed to introduce new train services, including a sleeper Vande Bharat train between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru via Tirupati, and a daytime seating train between Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. Furthermore, the Chief Minister requested the commencement of passenger train services on the newly constructed Kanigiri–Vijayawada railway line.

Chief Minister Naidu also paid a courtesy call on Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to discuss other state-related matters.

"The central government's commitment to supporting Andhra Pradesh in semiconductor design, skill training, and AI infrastructure marks a positive step toward regional technology development. Aligning advanced technology initiatives with robust logistics, such as improved port connectivity and rail networks, is essential for building a globally competitive business ecosystem. Infrastructure development of this scale will not only improve commercial freight movement but also attract long-term investments into the state." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes