From Our Correspondent
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh is working on a unified approval system that will enable businesses ranging from small kirana stores to large-scale data centres to obtain all required permissions through a single portal, as the state steps up efforts to improve the ease and speed of doing business.
The proposal was discussed at a meeting of the ministerial committee on employment generation chaired by IT, Electronics and Education Minister Nara Lokesh at his Undavalli residence on Monday. Ministers Kondapalli Srinivas, Kandula Durgesh and T.G. Bharat (who joined virtually) participated in the meeting.
Lokesh directed officials to design a streamlined approval mechanism that would significantly reduce procedural delays and make Andhra Pradesh one of the most business-friendly destinations in the country.
The meeting reviewed progress towards the state’s ambitious goal of creating 20 lakh jobs through industrial investments and economic development initiatives.
According to officials, nearly 750 major industrial projects that have received investment commitments are currently at various stages of implementation. Lokesh said these projects have the potential to generate large-scale employment opportunities for Andhra Pradesh’s youth once they become operational.
He instructed officials from the Industries Department and the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) to closely monitor every project and ensure that they move swiftly from approval to execution.
The minister emphasised the need to accelerate project implementation and said the government should aim to hold groundbreaking ceremonies and inaugurations for major projects every month.
Lokesh also directed officials to ensure that as many projects as possible are grounded before the Partnership Summit scheduled for November. He called for extensive roadshows across India and overseas to attract a larger volume of investments than those secured during the previous summit.
“Investment promotion efforts must be intensified so that Andhra Pradesh remains a preferred destination for both domestic and global investors,” he said.
Officials informed the minister that 210 major projects had progressed to the next stage during the past month alone. They also reported that work on 26 projects in the IT and Electronics sectors is progressing actively.
To ensure timely execution, Lokesh asked state-level officials to conduct project reviews with district collectors and local authorities every 15 days. He stressed the importance of coordination among various departments to resolve bottlenecks and facilitate faster project implementation.
The government’s focus on speeding up project grounding comes as Andhra Pradesh seeks to translate investment commitments into operational industries, employment opportunities and sustained economic growth under its broader development agenda.