‘Trishul’ strategy to help control drug menace, crimes and road accidents in AP
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu presides over the eighth Collectorate’s Conference in Amaravati on Friday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed the police and district administrations to adopt a three-point strategy to achieve “zero drugs, zero tolerance against atrocities on women and zero road accidents”. He ordered the formation of State and District Committees under the name ‘Trishul’.
After reviewing the law and order situation with Collectors and Superintendents of Police at the concluding session of the Eighth Collectors’ Conference in Amaravati, Mr. Naidu asked the committees to prepare time-bound action plans and monitor their implementation.
He called for more action against ganja and the drug menace, with a calendar of awareness and enforcement programs. He said de-addiction centers of excellence should be set up in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Amaravati.
Mr. Naidu ordered the police to take strict action against objectionable content on social media and asked the ministerial committee that looks into issues related to social media to thoroughly study organized harassment through digital platforms.
Better conviction rates
The chief minister stressed the importance of speedy investigation and asked the police to reach the crime scene within 30 minutes. Every traffic accident should be investigated to determine its causes. Ambulance response times should also be analyzed, he said.
Mr. Naidu pointed out that Andhra Pradesh ranked first in road accidents nationally and said the state had seen a 14% drop in crime in the last two years, while offenses under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act also fell by 29.2%.
Pointing out that the conviction rate is currently 47%, he said better evidence collection and preservation could help raise it to 70% to 80%.
“One court – one policeman” system.
He called for the creation of regional forensic labs and other dog units, in addition to a “one court-one constable” system to monitor cases pending in courts. He directed officials to reduce the time required for DNA testing in critical cases from the current six hours.
The Chief Minister said that the police should remain firm in the area of law and order while being people-friendly.
Mr. Naidu asked the police not to harass the public during VIP movements. “Traffic should not be stopped 15 minutes before my arrival. The number of vehicles in my convoy has decreased substantially,” he said.
He said the government is responsible for signing investment agreements but the collectors are responsible for grounding the projects. “Delaying investment means denying employment,” he said.
He warned that development should not be hampered by the negligence of officials and said the reviews should produce results and the discussions should translate into better public services.
Regarding the drought situation, Mr. Naidu said that the state has seen deficit rainfall due to the El Niño situation. According to him, collectors should prioritize the supply of drinking water for people and livestock.
Growth rate of 13.44%.
The state’s growth rate at current prices is estimated at 13.44% while GST revenue has grown by 18%, Mr. Naidu said, adding that the government will complete 5.32 lakh houses by 2027 and provide tap water to every household by 2028.
Published – 11 Sep 2026 21:35 IST