Ministers outline development plans for Rayalaseema districts during I-Day celebrations

The 79th Independence Day was celebrated across Annamayya, Chittoor and Sri Sathya Sai districts on Friday (August 15), with events of ceremonial grandeur and announcements of major development initiatives.

At Rayachoti, Minister for Transport, Youth Services and Sports Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy hoisted the National Flag and outlined major projects, including national highway works worth ₹6,210 crore, repairs of 2,600 km rural roads, ‘Stree Shakti’ free bus travel scheme for women, ₹127.88 crore in direct benefit transfers to farmers, the Jal Jeevan Mission, water supply schemes, housing for over 40,000 families, and tourism and industrial growth measures.

In Chittoor, Minister for Health Satyakumar Yadav launched the celebrations at the Police Training College grounds. On this occasion, the Minister along with District Collector Sumit Kumar and SP Manikanta Chandolu launched distribution of ₹498 crore in assets, including SHG bank linkage aid, micro-irrigation equipment for farmers, and assistive devices for persons with disabilities. The Horticulture and Sericulture departments won awards for best stalls.

At Puttaparthi, Minister for BC Welfare and Textiles S. Savitha outlined a ₹2,087-crore development plan for Sri Sathya Sai district for 2025-26, with key allocations of ₹1,392.79 crore for the procurement of crops, ₹249.60 crore for paddy purchase under MSP, ₹126 crore for NREGS works, and ₹45 crore for women’s welfare schemes. She said that housing projects would receive funding of ₹3,174.43 crore, followed by road and irrigation works at ₹1,648 crore. District Collector T.S. Chetan and Superintendent of Police V. Ratna also graced the occasion.