Continued from P1

Naidu proposed that the Centre pursue Godavari-Kaveri river interlinking as a long-term solution to water security. He said Andhra Pradesh's rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna, Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Penna, support irrigation across 28 districts. He proposed diverting more than 500 TMC of surplus floodwater to the Kaveri basin through the Polavaram, Krishna and Penna systems. He said such a project could benefit Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Naidu also suggested that Ganga-Kaveri interlinking be taken up as a national project and called for a dedicated coordination mechanism for southern river basins. He urged the Centre to fix timelines for DPRs and statutory clearances.

Naidu proposed a bullet train corridor linking Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka through Kuppam, connecting Amaravati, Bengaluru, and Chennai. He also called for a shared logistics network and dry ports, integration of the southern power grid with the national grid, and a common skill-development system involving universities and skilling institutions. A dedicated southern disaster-management task force was proposed to enable states to support one another during natural calamities.

Naidu said south India could become a USD 10-trillion economy by 2047 and play a decisive role in India's ambition to become a USD 30–35 trillion economy.

Naidu proposed a national heritage and pilgrimage circuit linking Tirupati, Srisailam, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Rameswaram, and Mysuru with Varanasi, Ayodhya, and the Char Dham. He urged the Southern Zonal Council to work on mutual trust, Centre-State cooperation, and faster implementation of decisions.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Ministers of Kerala and Karnataka, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar attended the meeting.