Amaravati's revival: 'Dream capital' back on map with Chandrababu Naidu at helm

Amaravati, barely 20km away Vijaywada, was envisaged as the dream capital by Chandrababu Naidu and his Telugu Desam Party.

A day before taking oath as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu said Amaravati will be the only capital of the state and categorically discarded the previous regime's idea of a "three-capital" formula.

He also said his regime will develop Visakhapatnam as an economic powerhouse and Kurnool as the seed hub of the state. "In our government, there will be no games under the guise of three capitals. Our capital is Amaravati. Amaravati is the capital," said Naidu, in an apparent dig at his predecessor Jagan Reddy of YSR Congress.

Amaravati, barely 20km away Vijayawada, was envisaged as the dream capital by Naidu and his Telugu Desam Party. Spread over 217 square kilometres, Amaravati had taken shape in 2015. However, its development had come to a halt in 2019 after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party won the assembly polls.

Despite an investment of around Rs 10,000 crore, the previous TDP government was unable to develop all necessary infrastructure including roads and drains. According to reports, Naidu now plans to prioritise these projects to woo investors.

The plan ahead

During Naidu’s previous term, flats for MLAs, MLCs, AIS officers, and secretariat staff were built here. However, the finishing touches were pending. With Naidu coming back to power, workers and engineers say they have received instructions to proceed, according to a report by Indian Express.

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), which is responsible for developing the Amaravati capital city, is again reviewing the status of these developmental works.

In Tulluru, dense vegetation around high-rise apartments intended for the state’s MLAs is being cleared. The report said that the executive engineer confirmed he has received directives to resume work. “The approach road to the buildings and the trunk road connecting Tulluru to other areas will also be laid soon,” he told Indian Express.

Official orders are expected to be issued soon. A high-level meeting by the chief minister will be held after which the APCRDA will get proper directions on how to go about the infrastructure development works
Real estate boom

Following Naidu’s win, land prices in Amaravati surged by 50 percent to 100 percent, according to The Times of India. However, transactions are limited as sellers hold off for higher prices. Several central government institutions, including Reserve Bank of India, CAG, NTPC, CPWD, ONGC and Indian Bank among others have acquired land in Amaravati. Naidu is expected to speed up the building up of these institutions to boost economic activity. This expectation has pushed up the land prices around these buildings.

APCRDA Commissioner Vivek Yadav told The Hindu that senior officials are reviewing the status of the works in the capital city. “We have started clearing the bushes and shrubs at all the important buildings like the Secretariat, High Court, Seed Access Road and under-construction buildings such as residential quarters for Ministers, judges, MLAs and MLCs. Street-lighting in the villages is also being taken up,” he said.

The NDA alliance of TDP, BJP and Jana Sena won recently-concluded Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. In the assembly elections, the alliance won 164 of 175 assembly seats and in Lok Sabha, it clinched 21 of 25 seats.

The victory and Naidu's triumphant return is expected to breathe new life into the “ghost city” and its projects.