Housing Initiative Launch in Andhra Pradesh
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu jointly launched a major housing initiative in Burripalem village, Guntur district. The central government has sanctioned 3 lakh permanent houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin 2.0) at a total cost of ₹3,600 crore, significantly increasing the state's allocation from the initial quota of 76,000 houses. The Union Minister committed to providing an additional 6 lakh houses upon completion of the first phase, stating that "every single poor person in Andhra will get a permanent house."
3D Printing Technology Pilot Project
As part of the initiative, the leaders inaugurated a pilot project featuring India's first 3D-constructed housing project comprising 177 houses built at a cost of ₹14 crore. This innovative construction technology is expected to result in significant savings in time, cost, and labor, with completion projected within six months. The houses are described as having superior durability and longevity compared to traditional construction methods.
Additional Development Initiatives
The event also highlighted several other development initiatives for Andhra Pradesh. Prime Minister Modi granted legal status to Amaravati as the state's sole permanent capital through parliamentary legislation and released special financial assistance of ₹15,000 crore. The Polavaram project is being completed with 100% grant funding from the Central Government, and the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is expected to enhance state connectivity.
Agricultural and Women Empowerment Programs
On agricultural support, the state government is supplementing the Central Government's ₹6,000 PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi with an additional ₹14,000 under the 'Annadata Sukhi Bhava' scheme, providing farmers with total annual financial assistance of ₹20,000. The state aims to become India's largest horticulture hub for fruits, flowers, vegetables, and medicinal crops. For women empowerment, 23 lakh women in the state have already become 'Lakhpati Didis' (earning over ₹1 lakh annually), with a target to raise this number to 60 lakh. The national 'SARAS Mela' will be held outside Delhi for the first time, in Andhra Pradesh on October 15, and will be inaugurated by President Smt. Droupadi Murmu.