CM lays foundation stone for new bus station at Kuppam

Tirupati: Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for a modern bus station and depot to be established at a budget of ₹118 crore, at Kuppam in Chittoor district on Saturday.Later, addressing a public meeting along with Chittoor MP Daggumalla Prasad Rao, transport minister M Ramprasad Reddy and others, Naidu recalled that the first RTC bus station at Kuppam was established during the chief ministerial tenure of TDP founder NT Rama Rao.The CM outlined a roadmap to transform the constituency into ‘Swarna Kuppam’ by aggressively attracting industries to eradicate local unemployment and halt migration.

He highlighted that the state government launched 30 projects in a single day, pooling investments worth ₹9,322 crore through fresh inaugurations, foundation stones, and memorandums of understanding (MoUs).“These investments are projected to generate around 80,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, and will boost Kuppam’s economic landscape,” he said.Announcing rural welfare initiatives, Naidu promised a boost to commercial and horticultural crops across Rayalaseema through the Purvodaya project, for which the foundation stone will be laid at Madanapalle next month.

He further said that to achieve a sustainable ecosystem, the government is planning a comprehensive shift away from petrol and diesel towards solar power and eco-friendly transportation.“Free solar rooftop power installations are being provided to SC and ST households, alongside a ₹552 crore scheme to extend solar rooftop benefits to BC and OC households. Citizens are encouraged to adopt net-zero principles, grow fresh vegetables through rooftop farming, and embrace e-bicycles to curb pollution,” he said.To capitalize on regional resources, a granite cluster is being planned to market Kuppam’s famous blue granite, the CM said. “Comprehensive master plans for Kuppam’s overall development are being formulated in collaboration with global urban infrastructure consultant Surbana Jurong and IIT Kanpur. Efforts are also underway to guarantee complete mobile connectivity across all corners of the constituency,” Naidu added.To boost tourism and offer unique experiences, the government is developing elephant safaris, rock climbing, and trekking activities. On the religious front, temples across Kuppam will undergo a ₹34 crore upgrade funded by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Long-standing land disputes in Settipalli and Vatticherukuru have also been resolved to provide relief to local landowners.Approaching his 50th year in political life, the veteran leader issued a stern warning against factionalism and political violence. He remarked that the era of cinema glamorising Rayalaseema factionism is over. He directly attributed high-profile past crimes and administrative irregularities to the rise of rowdyism in politics under the previous regime. Turning his focus to the capital city dispute, he asserted that changing the state capital is legally unfeasible after the central government legislation, and sharply criticized opposition parties for contradicting themselves and shifting stances on Amaravati.