Putting in place its agenda for the general elections, AP Congress Committee has decided to focus on decentralised development of the State by improving the coastal corridor network.
The maiden meeting of the AP Congress Manifesto Committee held at Indira Bhavan, party headquarters in Gandhi Bhavan, on Wednesday saw the leaders identifying the key issues that should be included in the manifesto to be released soon.
Office-bearers appointedMeanwhile, former Minister Vatti Vasant Kumar was appointed vice-president of the APCC. Party chief N. Raghuveera Reddy handed over the order to Mr. Vasant Kumar, while Government Chief Whip in Council R. Padmaraju was named the chief spokesperson of the APCC. Other appointments include: C. Umamalleswara Rao, S.N. Raja and Rama Devi as general secretaries. Venkat, D. Sambasiva Rao and Gautam are spokespersons.
Earlier, the meeting chaired by former Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy saw the leaders listing out the priority areas across 13 districts for development once the State comes into existence on June 2.
They decided to have short, mid and long-term action plans for the all-round development of the Seemandhra region.
Talking to the reporters after the meeting, Mr. Reddy said that they were aiming to develop coastal region which was rich in resources.
He said development of private ports in the coastal region, setting up of industries based on mineral resources in Rayalaseema, industrial corridor, exploring the KG basin by encouraging petro-chemical hub and tourism corridor would be part of the manifesto.
He said the coastal corridor road network covering Icchapuram to Tada through the coast was in the manifesto.
“This will be a parallel national highway coastal corridor to open alternative road connectivity to Chennai,” he said.
Mr. Reddy said Buckingham Canal, which was used for inland waterways, would be developed again. A coastal navigation project was on the anvil and would find a prominent place in the manifesto, he said pointing out that all-round development was the prime concern now.
On the new capital, he said a city which was accessible to all parts of Andhra Pradesh with good road and rail connectivity would be identified.
The manifesto is expected to be announced in the first week of April.
