YSRCP alleges injustice as NIELIT shifted from Tirupati to Mangalagiri

Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has criticised the Andhra Pradesh government's decision to relocate the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) from Tirupati to Mangalagiri, calling it a 'grave injustice' to the Rayalaseema region.

The institute was initially housed temporarily on the Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) campus in 2022. Official approval for a permanent campus in Tirupati came in January 2024, with the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT sanctioning the project at an estimated cost of ₹8.50 crore. Of this, MeitY's contribution was ₹6.93 crore and NIELIT's share was ₹1.57 crore. A grant-in-aid of ₹1 crore was also released to NIELIT Chennai during 2023-24 to advance the project.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Dr. Gurumoorthy highlighted the efforts made during the previous YSRCP government to secure the institute for Tirupati. He noted that the city hosts nearly ten universities, national institutions such as IIT, IISER and IIIT Sri City, and 24 engineering colleges.

"Tirupati already has several Electronic Clusters and nearly 1,200 students are getting skill training at the Tirupati centre with the help of NIELIT's channel partners. Establishing NIELIT in Tirupati will further develop this ecosystem," he said.

The MP recalled that the project was originally proposed at ₹300 crore, with the Detailed Project Report later revised to ₹180 crore. He also cited assurances from Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding the institute's establishment in Tirupati.

While the YSRCP does not oppose new institutes coming up in Amaravati, Dr. Gurumoorthy said the party would resist the diversion of projects already sanctioned elsewhere to the capital, warning that such moves could lead to centralisation of facilities. He appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision.