Amaravati, July 16 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh is currently implementing 260 projects worth over Rs 1.23 lakh crore in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, officials said.

At a review meeting on the status of PPP projects and related government investments on Thursday, officials informed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that projects worth Rs 1,23,229 crore are at various stages of implementation across sectors such as industry, infrastructure, urban development, tourism, medical colleges, roads, and solar power.

The Chief Minister stated that Viability Gap Funding (VGF)‑supported projects will play a pivotal role in driving future infrastructure development.

He observed that while India witnessed an era of economic reforms in the past, it is now undergoing an infrastructure revolution.

He stressed that PPP projects offer the best opportunity to accelerate development across multiple sectors.

Naidu said all PPP projects should be developed on a sustainable model with adequate opportunities for economic activity built into every project.

He instructed officials to effectively leverage Central Government support mechanisms, such as the Urban Challenge Fund, and called for the establishment of an efficient institutional mechanism for managing ports, airports, and other major infrastructure.

The Chief Minister directed officials to place the Andhra Pradesh Public‑Private Partnership–VGF Policy 1.0 before the next Cabinet meeting and to issue detailed implementation guidelines at the earliest.

He also instructed officials to study various PPP frameworks being implemented by the Central Government.

Officials projected that, in line with the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision, the State could attract Rs 8 lakh crore in annual investment through PPP projects. They explained that large‑scale infrastructure investments would be concentrated in the Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati Economic Regions.

Naidu said all projects should align with the micro and macro objectives of the Swarna Andhra Vision.

He stressed the need to continuously identify gaps, improve implementation, and seize emerging opportunities.

He noted that supplying water to industries would generate revenue for the Water Resources Department and said irrigation associations would also play an important role in the process.

He directed every government department to prepare a comprehensive financial plan with short‑, medium‑ and long‑term revenue strategies. Government departments, he said, should implement PPP projects in a manner that inspires investor confidence.

He further emphasised that Andhra Pradesh should secure a first‑mover advantage in every promising sector.

The Chief Minister directed that local fishermen be made stakeholders in coastal tourism projects so they can directly benefit from these developments.

He also instructed officials to create better public infrastructure and economic activity zones around 21 major temples across the State.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 178 crore in VGF for the Waste‑to‑Energy plants in Vijayawada and Tirupati.

They further stated that Rs 1,468 crore in VGF is expected for medical colleges and that the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, has appreciated Andhra Pradesh’s PPP model adopted for establishing these institutions.

–IANS

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