FILE PHOTO: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, approved the proposed Andhra Pradesh Omnibus (Ease of Doing Business) Act, 2026, and the Andhra Pradesh Public-Private Partnership Policy, 2026, to improve the State’s investment climate.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved the proposed Andhra Pradesh Omnibus (Ease of Doing Business) Act, 2026, aimed at amending multiple laws to improve the business environment, along with the Andhra Pradesh Public-Private Partnership Policy, 2026.The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati on Thursday, also ratified the decision of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority to raise a ₹300-crore loan from APPFCL for payment of annual annuity to Amaravati farmers during 2026-27.It approved the lowest bid for constructing twin office towers on either side of the Quantum Computing Centre at the Amaravati Quantum Valley Tech Park. The value of the works is about ₹1,002 crore. Revised administrative sanction of ₹206 crore was also accorded for consultancy services relating to the Assembly and High Court buildings.Infrastructure, urban development and industrial measures get Cabinet nodIn another infrastructure decision, the Cabinet approved the redevelopment of the Velampeta slum in Visakhapatnam under the Visakhapatnam Economic Region programme through the design-build-finance-and-transfer model. The proposal includes the transfer of development rights in a 1:4 ratio, exemption from certain municipal and development authority charges, and specified relaxations under the Andhra Pradesh Building Rules, 2017.The Cabinet also approved the Andhra Pradesh Pedestrian Safety and Universal Accessibility Policy, 2026, along with operational guidelines. It also approved the reorganisation of urban development authorities in line with the newly reorganised districts and renewal of leases of municipal immovable properties that have been under lease for more than 25 years.On industrial infrastructure, the Cabinet approved APIIC’s proposal to take over a ₹680-crore term loan sanctioned by HUDCO for the Andhra Pradesh Bulk Drug Infrastructure Corporation.It also approved amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Textiles, Apparel and Garments Policy, 2024-29, introducing an additional wage-subsidy option for eligible textile units under employment-linked incentives.For industrial power connections, the Cabinet agreed to reduce supervision charges levied by APTransco and power distribution companies to 2.5 per cent and exempt eligible projects from development charges, as requested by APIIC.The Cabinet decided to extend the subsidised electricity tariff of ₹1.50 per unit to aquaculture ponds, including shrimp and fish farms, from June 1, 2026.Renewable energy, land allotments and legislative decisions approvedOn land allotments for renewable energy, it approved leasing 49.67 acres at Cherlopalli in YSR Kadapa district to NREDCAP for a solar power project under the PM-KUSUM scheme. The lease will be for 30 years at ₹31,000 an acre annually, with a 5 per cent increase every two years.Another 51.37 acres in Vemula mandal of YSR Kadapa district will also be leased to NREDCAP for a solar project at an annual lease rent of ₹31,000 per acre.The Cabinet approved allotment of 19.56 acres in Sri Sathya Sai district to APIIC for ₹5.87 crore and 13.47 acres in Chittoor district to the Chittoor Urban Development Authority for layout development at a cost of about ₹8.45 crore.Land was also transferred to APIIC for compensatory afforestation connected with the diversion of forest land for laying a water-supply pipeline from the Kandaleru reservoir to Sri City industries. Separate parcels of 8.70 acres and 6.42 acres in the SPSR Nellore district will be transferred for the purpose.The Cabinet decided to withdraw the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill — Criminal Law (Andhra Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2019.It also approved the withdrawal of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, 2024, from the Union Home Ministry to facilitate the submission of a fresh Bill incorporating suggestions made by Central ministries.Higher education reforms also receive approvalIn higher education, the Cabinet approved promulgation of an Ordinance to amend the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2016, to include RVS University and Pragati University under the brownfield category, among other proposals. Published on August 6, 2026
