Arid Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh has remained backward historically on agriculture and industrial fronts for various reasons.
But the land-locked region can now aspire for speedy economic growth thanks to the clubbing of the coastal Assembly segments of Gudur and Sullurpeta with the Tirupati-headquartered new district by the YSR Congress Party government in the State.
Thanks to the reorganisation of districts, Rayalaseema has now got access to sea coast fulfilling the long-felt aspirations of the people of the region, says senior YSRCP leader Kakani Govardhan Reddy. Dugarajapatnam, where the Centre has committed to set up a public sector sea port at the time of bifurcation of unified Andhra Pradesh, can be expected to spur port-led development in Rayalaseema now and undo the ''historic injustice''.
The proposed airport at Dagadarthi should be expedited for the speedy development of the ''Greater Rayalaseema region'', which includes SPSR Nellore district, he tells The Hindu. The string of ports, including the ones at Krishnapatnam and Ramayapatnam, will unleash the full growth potential of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, he says.
The State government envisaged development of four non-major greenfield ports, including Ramayapatnam, now part of truncated Nellore district, by 2023-24 fiscal.
The reorganisation of districts will be beneficial for the Gudur region as the merger will facilitate firm allocation of 3.5 tmcft of Swarnamukhi river water under the Telugu Ganga project and bring to fruition ₹140 crore projects for development of the Gudur Assembly segment, including Vakadu barrage and 12 checkdams to ensure assured irrigation water to the farmers in the segment, explains bureaucrat-turned-politician and Gudur MLA V. Varaprasad.
The merger of coastal Sullurpeta comprising among other places, Sriharikota, will give a boost to the industrial development of the Tirupati region which did not witness growth to the desired levels all these years, YSRCP MLA K. Sanjeevaiah observes.
