Southern economy could reach $10 trillion by 2047, says Naidu, seeks more cooperation among states

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu predicted that the southern economy could reach $10 trillion by 2047, urging the Indian government for greater regional cooperation during a meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Mahabalipuram. The chief minister emphasized that southern states contribute approximately 31% to India's GDP and are vital for the nation's progress towards Viksit Bharat.

At the meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Naidu highlighted several demands for the Center, including the acceleration of bifurcation-related issues within the region.

Naidu proposed a bullet-train corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, with the route passing through his home constituency of Kuppam. He also advocated for a comprehensive transport network linking Amaravati, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The chief minister suggested establishing a common logistics network, establishing dry ports across southern states, and linking the southern power grid with the national grid.

Additionally, he proposed a joint consortium of universities and skill institutions from southern states, along with the creation of a Mutual Aid Force to facilitate inter-state cooperation during natural disasters.

Furthermore, Naidu suggested diverting over 500 TMC of water through a Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project to address Tamil Nadu's water scarcity issues. He called for coordinated efforts among Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu regarding water management. The chief minister also proposed a long-term national plan for the Ganga-Cauvery river linking and urged time-bound Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and approvals for river-linking projects.

Naidu suggested the creation of a common spiritual tourism circuit connecting Tirupati with Kashi (Varanasi), Ayodhya, and Char Dham.