AP CM seeks Centre's nod for Rs 2,400 cr road project

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday sought permission from the Centre to carry out a Rs 2,400-crore special road corridor development project to effectively deal with Naxalism, besides requesting for a helicopter to carry out swift air operations.

Reddy also suggested that the expenditure on counter terrorism measures in the states could be brought under Security Related Expenditure funds like in the case of left-wing extremism.

"Our long pending request for stationing of a troop carrier helicopter at Visakhapatnam for facilitating swift air borne operations in Andhra-Orissa border may also be considered and approved immediately," he said at the chief ministers' conference on internal security in New Delhi.

Reddy said that his government has submitted a proposal for development of a corridor of road network all along the inter-state border districts starting from Srikakulam to Adilabad, with an estimated cost of about Rs 2,400 crore, to facilitate rapid movement of security forces.

"This proposal is pending for the approval of the Central government. I request the Prime Minister to accord approval for the proposal," he said.

Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh has been facing the scourge of left-wing extremism and terrorism over a long period. "Both these issues pose a grave danger to the internal security of the country. Our state is fully geared up to face these challenges. We have evolved comprehensive strategies in dealing with both these issues based on our own experiences," he said.

He said his state has put in place suitable mechanisms to address the root cause of the problem at physical and socio economic levels, besides training security forces in jungle operations to counter guerrilla tactics of Naxalites.

"The educated unemployed youth particularly in interior areas are susceptible to the influence of extremists. Such persons are identified by the police while the district administration imparts special skills required for employment," Reddy said.

Talking about anti-terror measures, he said, "Andhra Pradesh formed a specialised commando force namely OCTOPUS to respond to major terror strikes on the lines of National Security Guard (NSG).

"OCTOPUS, sufficient 'Special Weapon and Tactic' (SWAT) teams are trained on the lines of NSG. They are adequately armed and equipped for counter terrorist responses, hostage rescue, etc. These teams will be deployed in important cities and vulnerable places," he said.