Criticism is intensifying over allegations that prestigious institutions allocated to Rayalaseema for regional development are being shifted one after another towards Amaravati. The latest controversy concerns the proposed relocation of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) from Tirupati to Amaravati. Tirupati MP Gurumoorthy has strongly objected to the alleged move, accusing the government of increasing regional disparities by shifting educational, medical and technological institutions from Rayalaseema in the name of capital development.
Efforts Made to Establish NIELIT in Tirupati
MP Gurumoorthy said that he had repeatedly met senior officials and Union government leaders in the past to work towards establishing NIELIT in Tirupati. He recalled that during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government, efforts were made with the support of then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to persuade the Union government to establish the institute in Tirupati.
He further stated that he had recently met Union ministers and requested them to speed up the process of establishing a permanent NIELIT campus in Tirupati. According to him, the response from the Centre was positive and there was hope that the process would move forward.
‘Unfair to Shift the Institution to Amaravati’
Gurumoorthy strongly criticised the alleged decision to allocate land in Amaravati for an institution that was proposed for Tirupati.
He alleged that shifting such a prestigious institution from Tirupati to Amaravati would be an unjust decision and would undermine the interests of Rayalaseema. He also criticised Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying that despite being born and educated in Rayalaseema and rising politically from the region, he was allegedly taking decisions that could adversely affect the interests of the region.
Concerns Over Rayalaseema Students and Youth
The Tirupati MP made it clear that he would strongly oppose decisions that could affect the future of students and young people in Rayalaseema.
He expressed concern that instead of establishing educational, medical and technological institutions in backward regions and creating opportunities for local youth, concentrating major institutions in and around Amaravati could further widen regional inequalities.
According to Gurumoorthy, institutions such as NIELIT can provide students with access to advanced technical education, skill development and employment opportunities. Shifting such institutions away from Rayalaseema, he argued, could deprive local students and young people of important opportunities.
Why Tirupati Needs More Advanced Institutions
Tirupati is already home to several prestigious universities, engineering colleges and other educational institutions. However, Gurumoorthy argued that this should not be a reason to shift new high-level institutions away from the region.
Instead, he said, Tirupati and the surrounding areas should be developed as major educational and technological hubs by bringing in more premier institutions and expanding opportunities for students.
He also stated that the issue would be raised in Parliament to question the proposed move and seek clarity on the government’s decision.
Growing List of Rayalaseema Concerns
The NIELIT issue has emerged against the backdrop of several other controversies concerning institutions and projects associated with Rayalaseema.
There has already been dissatisfaction over the proposal to shift the headquarters of Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank towards the Amaravati region. Similarly, the decision to establish AIIMS at Mangalagiri instead of Rayalaseema, the long-pending demand concerning a High Court bench or court-related institutions in Kurnool, and the reported decision to shift the proposed ₹250-crore MSME Technology Centre from Kopparthy in YSR Kadapa district to Amaravati have all triggered criticism.
These developments have contributed to a growing perception among sections of Rayalaseema residents that major institutions and development projects are increasingly being concentrated around Amaravati.
Development Decentralisation vs Amaravati-Centric Growth
The latest NIELIT controversy has once again brought the issue of development decentralisation to the forefront.
The central question now being debated is whether concentrating major educational, medical and technological institutions in a single region can ensure balanced development across Andhra Pradesh.
Critics argue that backward and relatively less-developed regions such as Rayalaseema need greater investment in higher education, technology, healthcare and employment-generating institutions. Establishing such institutions locally, they say, would help create opportunities for students and youth while promoting balanced regional growth.
With the alleged proposal to shift NIELIT from Tirupati to Amaravati, the debate over the future of Rayalaseema development has gained fresh momentum. The issue is likely to become another major political flashpoint over regional balance, development decentralisation and the concentration of institutions around Amaravati.
