After the recent elections, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is now a key player in the national government. This has raised expectations in Visakhapatnam, especially regarding the establishment of a new railway zone and reversing the decision to privatize Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the company behind the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant....
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While Special Category Status has been a long-standing demand, it is unlikely to be granted. Instead, the TDP may prioritize securing substantial funding for projects like the Polavaram irrigation project. The railway zone was promised by Prime Minister Modi during the 2019 election campaign. The new TDP government may also push for funding for the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada metro rail projects, which have stalled. Additionally, the TDP may oppose the privatization of RINL and advocate for alternative solutions to improve its financial health, such as capital restructuring and granting captive iron ore mines. The RINL unions are hopeful that the TDP's influence will prevent privatization.