Why in News?
The Union Budget 2026–27 announced several infrastructure, mining, and digital economy initiatives benefiting Andhra Pradesh
Key announcements for AP
1. Rare Earth Corridor (REC)
- Andhra Pradesh identified as one of the mineral-rich states under the Rare Earth Corridor initiative
2. High-Speed Rail Corridors (HSRCs)
- Andhra Pradesh to benefit from:
- Hyderabad–Bengaluru High-Speed Rail Corridor
- Hyderabad–Chennai High-Speed Rail Corridor
3. Visakhapatnam Data Centre Boost
- Hyperscale data centre proposed in Visakhapatnam
- By Google (via Raiden Infotech)
4. Ecotourism Development
- Key projects:
- Bird-watching trails at Pulicat Lake
- Ecological mountain trail in Araku Valley
