Meetings in Delhi, Vijayawada over likely announcement for AP

Vijayawada, Sep 7 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NChandrababu Naidu today held a meeting here with his cabinetcolleagues over a likely announcement from the Centralgovernment on either the grant of special category status tothe state or a special economic package for AP. In New Delhi, Union Minister of State for Science andTechnology Y Satyanarayana Chowdary and Rajya Sabha member C MRamesh had a meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhand Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on the issue. Chandrababu held the emergency meeting with some of hiscabinet colleagues, discussing the happenings in the nationalcapital. Later in the afternoon, Union Finance Minister ArunJaitley is expected to make an announcement on the things thatare likely to be delivered to AP in accordance with theReorganisation Act, 2014. It is understood that Chandrababu has been invited to NewDelhi this afternoon but there is no word from his office hereon whether he will make it for the trip. "Indications are that the Centre may announce a specialpackage to the state. There is no clarity on whether it willgrant special status as is being demanded," a CMO officialsaid. In Delhi, Satyanarayana Chowdary said the Centre wanted torefer the special status issue to the National DevelopmentCouncil. "But we are insisting on special status without anyreference to the NDC as it will only further delay theprocess," he said. There is also stalemate over the establishment of a newrailway zone at Visakhapatnam with the Centre pointing toobjections raised by Odisha and Chhattisgarh. In the event, there are talks now that a new railway zonemay be set up with Vijayawada as the headquarters. "The Chief Minister is in constant touch with our peoplein New Delhi on all issues. There will be some clarity laterin the afternoon," the official said. PTI DBV ARSRCBRDS