Industries Minister T.G. Bharath and Panyam MLA Gowru Charitha Reddy review pending industrial projects during their visit to the Orvakal Industrial hub in Kurnool.
| Photo Credit: U. SUBRAMANYAM
The Andhra Pradesh government has made several development plans for Kurnool, known as a backward district and the gateway to Rayalaseema. It has proposed a drone hub, enhanced industrial activity with the development of the Orvakal industrial node, greater flight connectivity, and the establishment of a High Court Bench.
Kurnool was the capital of Andhra Pradesh from October 1, 1953 to October 31, 1956. On November 1, 1956, the Telugu-speaking areas of the erstwhile Hyderabad province were merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh. During the merger, the Sribagh Pact, an agreement between the political leaders of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions, promised that a High Court would be set up in Kurnool. However, this did not happen.
The idea was proposed again not too long ago. As part of its decentralised development plan or the ‘three capitals’ proposal, the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government said it would develop Kurnool as the judicial capital. A few judicial bodies and commissions were shifted to Kurnool and the district was notified as the headquarters of the State Human Rights Commission in 2023. However, the High Court remained in Amaravati. The ‘three capitals’ proposal ran into hurdles.
This year, Chandrababu Naidu returned as Chief Minister. In November 2024, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a resolution for a High Court Bench in Kurnool. Industries Minister T.G. Bharath announced in late November that the site survey for establishing the Bench is underway and said that the process would be completed in six months.
Apart from the High Court, Kurnool is eagerly awaiting the implementation of other promises too. Kurnool has always lagged behind in development. As it has very few industries and inadequate irrigation facilities, thousands of people have migrated from the district to other parts of the State in search of better opportunities. In 2022, when 13 new districts were carved out in Andhra Pradesh, Kurnool lost its major reservoirs to Nandyal district. Promises to develop the district have never been fulfilled or have been partially fulfilled, leaving several parts of the district underdeveloped.
The Centre recently announced that it would pump in about ₹2,700 crore for developing infrastructure in the Orvakal node of the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. The government plans to integrate several manufacturing clusters between Hyderabad and Bangaluru in the Orvakal node near Kurnool.
The plan to set up a 300-acre drone hub at Orvakal, the first-of-its-kind in the country, will also boost industrial development as it serve as a centre for training, innovation, and drone-related business. This is part of the government’s ambitious plans to turn the State into a drone capital. The Andhra Pradesh government is also planning to draft a drone policy. Drones are especially useful in the healthcare and agriculture sectors, and during calamities, as the government found out during the recent floods in Vijayawada.
The government believes that attracting investors to set up units at the Orvakal node will reap dividends. Orvakal is located near the Kurnool airport, which began commercial operations from March 2021. Air connectivity to Orvakal is also likely to increase as the government is trying to persuade flight operators to run services to Vijayawada.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs recently submitted a representation to the Centre seeking a railway line that will connect Kurnool to Amaravati, which will further propel growth in the district.
Historically, Kurnool was a stronghold of the TDP. However, this changed when Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy became Chief Minister. Later, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party dominated the undivided district of Kurnool in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2024 elections, however, the National Democratic Alliance managed to flip Rayalaseema’s long-standing political dynamics. Of the 14 seats in undivided Kurnool, the TDP secured 12.
Given the TDP’s dominance and as Mr. Naidu has proved his capability in transforming grand visions into reality in the past, there is hope that Kurnool may finally see a brighter future. The TDP government is also at an advantage compared to the YSRCP government as the Bharatiya Janata Party is also part of the government in the State.
Published – December 24, 2024 12:15 am IST
