VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met President of India Ramnath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the second day on Wednesday, during his two-day visit to Delhi.
Mr Reddy requested necessary funds for the development of National Highways in the State. Jagan also requested Gadkari to fully fund Amaravati-Anantapur Expressway.
He also requested the Union minister to identify few more road stretches in Andhra Pradesh as National Highways and to release Central funds for their maintenance.
The Chief Minister also requested Mr Gadkari to increase the grants for maintenance of some more National Highways. He also brought the issue of releases of necessary funds for the completion of Benz Circle flyover in Vijayawada.
Later, he met minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Mr Reddy had informed the finance minister that to improve the living standards of the people in the state, the State Government had introduced Navaratnas and sought financial aid from the Centre to implement the welfare schemes. He apprised her that there is a need to fill the revenue deficit and release funds for Polavaram project. He also reminded her to immediately release funds for the development of districts in backward regions of north Andhra and Rayalaseema.
He also pitched for the grant of Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Reddy met Union home minister and BJP national president Amit Shah. Mr Reddy urged Mr Shah to implement the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act. He had also extended his tour to Delhi to Thursday and cancelled his visits to Kadapa and Anantapur in Thursday.
The state ministers will attend the launch of the Kia motors vehicle at Anantapur on Thursday on behalf of the Chief Minister.
