Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the state will become the “Drone Capital of India” during the Amaravati Drone Summit 2024, held in Mangalagiri. As part of his vision to make Andhra Pradesh a leader in drone technology, Naidu revealed plans to allocate 300 acres of land in Orvakal, Kurnool District, for a dedicated drone hub. This initiative aims to make Andhra Pradesh the top destination for drone manufacturing, innovation, and research.
In addition to developing the drone hub, Naidu also outlined an ambitious plan to train 35,000 drone pilots to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in this industry. “Drones will play a crucial role in agriculture, healthcare, traffic management, and even disaster relief,” Naidu said, pointing to the use of drones during the recent floods in Vijayawada, where they delivered food and water to stranded people.
During the two-day summit, Naidu promised that within 15 days, the state government would release a comprehensive drone policy designed to attract drone manufacturers and create a business-friendly environment for innovators. This policy will make Andhra Pradesh a testing ground for drone applications, with successful pilot projects set to expand across the state and the country.
He assured that drones would be used extensively in police work for surveillance and monitoring, especially to keep an eye on criminal activities.
Reflecting on his role in driving India’s IT revolution in the 1990s, Naidu shared how his initiatives, such as launching Hyderabad’s HiTech City through a public-private partnership, helped establish the city as a major technology hub. He credited his collaboration with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for opening up India’s telecom sector, which paved the way for the country’s mobile technology boom. “Back then, we brought global tech giants like Microsoft to India, and now, we’re doing the same with drones,” Naidu said.
The Chief Minister praised the current leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “India is on track to becoming the third-largest economy by 2047 under Modi’s leadership, and with initiatives like JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) and Ayushman Bharat, we’ve strengthened the country’s digital and healthcare infrastructure.”
