Infrastructure Development in Andhra Pradesh

Infrastructure Development is critical for economic growth. It plays a significant role in setting up of an enabling platform for sustainable economic development. It includes services such as Power (electricity), telecommunications, sewage and sanitation, gas, roads, railways, seaports, and airports which promote commercial activities, production and consumption. Government of Andhra Pradesh has been pursuing Mission Based Approach for leveraging the sectoral strengths to enable the state reach sustainable double digit growth of GSDP. The paper briefly reviews recent data for the newly formed Sunrise State of Andhra Pradesh in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the period 2013–17 through sectoral share and growth rates, and focuses on a few areas of infrastructure perspectives for Andhra Pradesh. During 2015–16, the State has recorded growth rate of 10.99% for GSDP (India 7.6%), and 10.5% for GVA (India 7.3%). Per capita income at current prices for the State crossed Rs. one lakh for the first time in 2015–16 (Rs. 1, 07, 532 for the State, India Rs.93, 231). During 2016–17, for the first half year (H1), GSDP growth rate was 12.23% for the State (India 7.2%), and GVA growth rate was 12.0% for the State (India 7.2%). Growth rates have been worked out at constant prices with 2011–12 as the base year, and share of various sectors in GVA is presented at current prices. This encouraging trend needs to be sustained and improved upon to reach 15% sustainable target growth rate that the State is hopeful of achieving in the next few years. Infrastructure areas covered for Andhra Pradesh are: Road network, railways, seaports, airports, power (electricity and solar power), water, optical fibre, social infrastructure, and specialised industrial infrastructure such as Export Promotion Parks, Software Technology Parks (STPs), and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Plans for seaport-led development, power, and optical fibre network are emphasised.