YSRCP MP urges reversal of NIELIT shift from Tirupati, calls it injustice to Rayalaseema
Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy on Friday termed the State government's decision to relocate the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) from Tirupati to Mangalagiri as a 'grave injustice' to the Rayalaseema region. He urged the government to reconsider the move, which he said would undermine the region's growing technology ecosystem.
The institute was temporarily housed at the Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) campus in 2022. In January 2024, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) granted administrative approval for a permanent campus with an estimated cost of ₹8.50 crore. The central government's contribution was fixed at ₹6.93 crore, while NIELIT was to provide ₹1.57 crore. A grant-in-aid of ₹1 crore was also released to NIELIT Chennai for the 2023-24 financial year to take the project forward.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Gurumoorthy recalled the efforts made during the previous YSRCP government to bring the institute to Tirupati. He noted that Tirupati is home to nearly ten universities, national institutes such as IIT, IISER, and IIIT Sri City, and 24 engineering colleges. He also pointed out that the city already hosts several electronic clusters and that around 1,200 students receive skill training at the existing NIELIT centre through its channel partners.
“Establishing NIELIT in Tirupati will further develop this ecosystem,” Dr. Gurumoorthy said. He added that the project was originally proposed with an outlay of ₹300 crore, though the detailed project report was later prepared for ₹180 crore. He also recalled assurances given by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding the institute's location in Tirupati.
The MP clarified that the YSRCP does not oppose the State government bringing new institutions to the capital region of Amaravati. However, he said the party would firmly resist the diversion of projects already sanctioned for other regions. “Such a move will lead to centralisation of facilities in the future, depriving Rayalaseema of its due share,” he said.
Dr. Gurumoorthy appealed to the State government to reverse its decision and allow the institute to be established in Tirupati as originally planned. The controversy comes amid broader debates over the distribution of institutions and infrastructure between the Rayalaseema and Andhra regions of the State.
