Chennai: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is learnt to have briefed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on large-scale projects being implemented in Andhra Pradesh with the support of the Union government.
According to government sources, the exchange followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Chennai, where projects worth Rs 13,000 crore were inaugurated. Vijay, who attended the event, reportedly held a 30-minute one-on-one discussion with the Prime Minister at the Chennai airport, during which he was advised to visit Andhra Pradesh to see the outcomes of state–Centre coordination.
Vijay subsequently travelled to Vijayawada, offered prayers at the Kanaka Durga temple, and met Naidu at his residence. The meeting lasted about one-and-a-half hours, during which the Godavari–Krishna–Cauvery river-linking proposal was discussed. Vijay is said to have stressed the need for Andhra Pradesh to release water to Tamil Nadu as per established norms.
Sources said Naidu then listed key Centre-backed initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, including infrastructure works in Amaravati estimated at Rs 58,000 crore, the Polavaram national irrigation project, and rail projects worth Rs 10,134 crore covering new lines, doubling works and 74 station-related projects. He also referred to proposed new airports in places such as Kuppam.
The sources added that Naidu advised that Tamil Nadu could similarly benefit if it worked closely with the Union government. Officials in Tamil Nadu are said to have begun preparatory work to secure central funding and new projects across departments.
