As a strategic step to make Andhra Pradesh a national leader in defence and aerospace production, top TDP MPs held meeting with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today in New Delhi and submitted a proposal from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to establish defence production units in Andhra Pradesh.
The delegation of Telugu Desam Party MPs headed by MP Lavu Krishna Devarayulu, MP Magunta Srinivas Reddy, and MP Daggumalla Prasada Rao visited the Defence Minister together to press for a series of path-breaking initiatives to turn the state into a strategic defence production centre.
The letter presented during the meeting enclosed two letters of the Chief Minister, both dated May 19, outlining a comprehensive defence development plan.
The main proposals made were the development of four defence and aerospace production clusters. "Jaggaiahpet-Donakonda (6,000 acres): Production of missiles and ammunition, Lepakshi-Madakasira (10,000 acres): Aircraft and defence electronics, Visakhapatnam-Anakapalli (3,000 acres): Naval equipment and weapons testing, Kurnool-Orvakal (4,000 acres): Drones, robotics, and advanced components," an official statement read, adding calls for "DRDO Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence at IIT Tirupati and a Common Ammunition Storage Policy through Ministry of Defence facilitation."
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The plan also proposed assistance to defence investments and strategic initiatives, "₹2,400 Cr BEL Strategic Complex at Palasamudram. Revival of UADNL's 60,000 TPA aluminium alloy plant in Nellore. Land/infrastructure for HAL's LCA & LCH expansion. AMCA Program: Lepakshi-Madakasira proposed for MRO & assembly. Air Force Station at Donakonda near missile and UAV test ranges. Naval SEZ and Training Facility at Visakhapatnam, supporting ENC and NAOB."
The proposal also seeks coordination with NITI Aayog, industry experts, and the former DRDO Chairman Satish Reddy for guiding the establishment of a holistic defence ecosystem in the state.
The letter highlights, "These initiatives are in consonance with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and are directed towards enhancing India's strategic capacity while promoting industrial development and employment generation in Andhra Pradesh."
It continues, "We request your gracious favor and sanction for recognising the proposed defence hubs and supporting the initiatives detailed above. This will make Andhra Pradesh a major pillar of India's defence and aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and a significant contributor to national security, indigenisation, and self-reliance endeavors."
This exclusive outreach by CM Chandrababu Naidu is a renewed effort to make Andhra Pradesh a national defence and aerospace hub and to get the biggest-ever defence investments from the centre.
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