Southern States Should Work Together to Build $10 Trillion Economy: CM Chandrababu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu called for stronger coordination among southern states to accelerate regional development and address shared challenges. Speaking at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mahabalipuram, Naidu stressed that lasting solutions to regional issues could be achieved only through mutual trust, cooperation and coordination between the Centre and states.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, along with representatives from Puducherry. Naidu put forward several proposals covering transportation, infrastructure, water resources, power, tourism and education, with an emphasis on developing stronger economic and logistical links across southern India.

A key proposal was the creation of a bullet train corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Naidu suggested routing the corridor through Kuppam to establish a high-speed connection between Amaravati, Bengaluru and Chennai. He also called for a common logistics network and dry ports across southern states to improve freight movement and strengthen regional trade.

Naidu further proposed linking the southern electricity grid with the national grid and establishing a joint consortium of universities and skill-development institutions. Such cooperation, he said, could improve opportunities in higher education, research and workforce development.

On disaster management, the Chief Minister suggested creating a Mutual Aid Force through which southern states could assist one another during natural disasters and emergencies. He also proposed a joint spiritual tourism circuit connecting Tirupati, Kashi, Ayodhya and the Char Dham destinations.

Highlighting the economic strength of the region, Naidu said southern states contribute around 31% of India’s GDP and could potentially build a $10 trillion economy by 2047. He said the South should emerge as a major economic force in achieving the Viksit Bharat vision.

Naidu also urged the Centre to resolve long-pending issues under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, particularly the division of institutions listed under Schedules IX and X. He sought faster action on the state’s resource deficit, Section 56 issues and pending approvals for the Dugarajapatnam port, refinery, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada metro projects and Kadapa JSW railway link.

On water resources, Naidu backed the Godavari-Cauvery river-linking proposal, which envisages transferring more than 500 TMC of water. He called for coordination among Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and urged time-bound DPRs and clearances for river-linking projects.