Downloaded from http://smartprep.in Downloaded from http://smartprep.in 1 2 3 4 5 6 w partnerships for development Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met various business delegations and representatives of governments to forge partnerships in Andhra Pradesh. 1. The CM with Jennifer Daubeny, Consul General of Canada, with whom he discussed possible part - nerships & investments in AP. 2. With Jerry Rao, founder of MPhasiS. The meet explored opportunities to work together in various sectors. 3. In an engaging conversation with Ajay Banga of MasterCard, and his team, the CM discussed on FinTech initiatives in the state. 4. With Jan Widerstrom of SAAB India. The CM discussed on possibilities of making AP a hub for defence manufacturing. 5. The CM discussed possible synergies with Mohamed Faiszer Musthapha, Minister of Provincial Coun - cils & Local Govt, Sri Lanka 6. With Erik Solheim, ED of UNEP and team. They told the CM they were keen to be knowledge partner with AP on climate resilient programs. Downloaded from http://smartprep.in C O N T E N T S Pushing for all-round development Amaravati designs to imbue 22 6 Telugu culture The budget came up with several new initiatives as the government focussed on job creation, housing, and revival of sick industries. AP turning into 15 5 mobile hub Online with 20 the Lord State favours Happening Andhra simultaneous polls Various developments across the 32 state of Andhra Pradesh. Amaravati gets Growth strategies yielding 16 access roads fruitful results 10 AP Special Package 26 12 Making Agriculture gets Centre's 18 Profitable Approval Baahubali: The Conclusion Snapshot: 34 Road projects On Steady Path of 19 worth Rs 4,500 Growth crore in AP The Bridge on 14 River Krishna 28 Creating the Fintech eco-system Musical Genius C.R.Subburaman 24 Downloaded from http://smartprep.in ANDHRA PRADESH EDITORIAL Published Monthly In English & Telugu Volume:11 April 2017 Issue:10 reclaiming the Glory Salivahana Era 1939 The glory of Amaravati has been rekindled once again. Andhra Pradesh Commissioner Finance Minister Y Ramakrishundu has indeed brought back legislative S Venkateswar IIS power to the historical city after nearly 2,000 years by presenting the budget for 2017-18 in the newly got up Assembly. Editor From allocations to Ambedkar Smritivanam to creation of unemploy - Ramesh Babu Kandula ment dole, the Government has not left out any of its promises unful - filled in the budget. With an increase of 15.77% in outlay compared to Executive Editor the previous year, the budget ensured that no section was sidestepped NCoavreers Pha gNe unna AP Budget out of the development process. Second Cover Focussing on welfare and growth, the budget helped to create, in the CM with biz leaders words of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, ‘its own strain of Third Cover development that integrates rapid economic growth’. Month in pics Meanwhile, the Centre’s move to clear the Special Package to Andhra Fourth Cover Pradesh through Union Cabinet approval has not come a day late. The APIIC Advt on Sunrise State State Government has been pushing for some time to secure legal status to the Special Package announced last September by the Centre in lieu of Special Category Status. Published by: A pragmatic leadership in the State chose to garner as much benefit to Information & Public Relations the state as possible in the backdrop of Centre’s stand on SCS. The Department demand from certain quarters to go after two birds in the bush - even Government of Andhra Pradesh while the one in the hand may get lost - appears more political than Hyderabad - 500 028 practical. Ph: 040-23300258 Time is of essence at this juncture for the state. A lot of energy needs to be spent on things that matter – like the capital building and the Views expressed by various Polavaram project. The blueprints are getting ready for the first phase authors in this issue reflect their of Amaravati, and the construction of permanent structures is set to personal opinions. start in a few months from now. Polavaram is receiving unprecedented attention from the CM, who is leaving no stone unturned to complete Design the project. Karthik Beesu May we get our act together and may this Hevalambi Ugadi usher in all- round development in the state! Photos: T.Srinivasa Reddy, Vijayawada Printed at Caxton Offset Pvt. Ltd. Hyderabad Each Issue : Rs 20/- Annual Subscription : Rs 220/- Ramesh Babu Kandula www.andhrapradeshmagazine.org Editor Email: [email protected] www.ipr.ap.nic.in Ramesh Babu Kandula M/s Caxton Offset Pvt. Ltd Printed and Published by on behalf of Director/Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Dept.; Printed at ., 11.5.416/3, Red Hills, Hyderabad - 500 004; Published at Office of Director/Commissioner , 4 I&PR Dept, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, SamachAaNr DBhHaRvaA nP, ARCA GDuEarSdH s,M HAydGerAabZaINd E- 5.O00R0G 28. Editor: Ramesh Babu Kandula. APRIL 2017 Ph: 040-23300258. Downloaded from http://smartprep.in My government is in full agreement with the view that elections to both the assemblies and the Lok Sabha be held simultaneously so that the governments at the Centre and in the states could pay undivided attention to issues of policy and governance State favours during their tenures. simultaneous - Governor polls ESL Narasimhan he Andhra Pradesh normal 5 year tenure of the Lok to a stage that we conduct elec - government expressed Sabha, the country witnesses, on tions in significantly large parts of itself in favour of simul - an average, elections to about 5-7 the country almost every year, if tanous elections to Lok State Assemblies every year,” said not throughout the year. Political Sabha and State Assemblies. The a discussion paper by Bibek De - parties, and therefore govern - state not only backed the idea to broy and Kishore Desai, both of ments, have to continually keep an hold simultaneous elections to Niti Aayog. eye on electoral calculations. This Lok Sabha and State Assemblies "My government is in full agree - is bound to take its toll on gover - but even suggested that polls to ment with the view that elections nance, policy-making and admin - urban and rural local bodies too to both state assemblies and Lok istration.", Narasimhan pointed be held within one year thereon. Sabha be held simultaneously so out. Governor E S L Narasimhan artic - that Centre and state govern - Simultaneous polls would give ulated the state’s stand while ments could pay their undivided governments a "full four years of addressing the joint session of the attention to issues of policy and undistracted" time to address AP Legislative Council and the governance. We will go a step fur - issues of governance, the Gover - Assembly on the opening day of ther and suggest that elections nor said, adding "it is desirable" to the Budget session in the new to urban and rural local bodies have a national debate involving Legislature building in Amaravati. too should be held within one all sections of people. A debate is on in the country over year of the elections to the State The Niti Aayog paper felt that the polity being in continuous and Central legislative Houses," simultaneous polls would be a election mode due to elections the Governor said. stepping stone towards improved happening in one state or another. "Historically, elections to state as - governance and a larger initiation “It won’t be unreasonable to state semblies and Lok Sabha began to - of “electoral reforms” – a desper v- that the Indian polity is perenni - gether but over the years, for ately needed measure to re-boot ally in an election mode. Barring a varied reasons, they were de-cou - the Indian polity. Tfew exceptional years within a pled. Now the situation has come APRIL 2017 ANDHRA PRADESH MAGAZINE.ORG 5 Downloaded from http://smartprep.in 2017-18 PUSHING FOR ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT he Andhra Pradesh Government has pushed Centre’s move. for welfare, education and rural development The allocation for industrial sector has been increased in its annual budget of Rs 1.56 lakh crore for by a substantial 113% over last year. the year 2017-18. Presenting the budget in the The Minister proposed an expenditure of Rs. 1,56,999 Assembly, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu crore, with revenue expenditure estimated at said the outlay marked an increase of 15.77% compared The budget came Rs.1,25,912 crore and capital expenditure estimated at to the previous year. up with several new around Rs.31,087 crore (which includes Rs.8,009 crores initiatives as the The TDP’s poll promi₹se of towards principal repayment of Public Debt). providing unemployment The 2017-18 Budget Estimates entail an overall government allowance found place in increase of around 15.70 percent over the 2016-17 focussed on job the budget with the Gov - budget estimates. While the revenue expenditure is ernment earmarking 500 creation, housing, estimated to increase by around 10.28 per cent, the cap - crore. and revival of sick ital expenditure is estimated to grow by around 44.54 industries. It has also proposed to per cent over the 2016-17 financial year. The estimated spend Rs 695 crore, for Revenue Deficit is around Rs. 416 crore and the Fiscal the first time, to support Deficit is estimated at around Rs. 23,054 crore. The the Economically Back - fiscal deficit will be around 3 per cent of the GSDP, ward Classes. Owhne reDase tmheo Rneveetnuies Daefticiito wn ould be around 0.05 per The Finance Minister said cent of the GSDP. comprehensive action would be taken during the fiscal Excerpts from the Finance Minister’s Budget Speech: and beyond to improve the lives of women.