Amaravati to be completed in three years with Rs 64,721 crore: Narayana

Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana on Tuesday assured the Assembly that the construction of Amaravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, will be completed within three years, with an estimated budget of Rs 64,721 crore. Addressing the House during the Question Hour, the Minister responded to a query raised by MLA Sujaja Chaudary regarding the status of Amaravati's development.

Narayana said that despite political uncertainty from 2019 to 2024, the government is now committed to accelerating the construction. He revealed that the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have collectively sanctioned Rs 13,400 crore, KfW Bank has approved Rs 5,000 crore, and HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation) has committed Rs 11,000 crore.

Additionally, the Central Government has provided Rs 1,560 crore under grant assistance. Main roads will be completed within two years, layout and LPS roads, drains, and basic infrastructure will be finished in three years and the construction of the Legislative Assembly and High Court will also be completed within three years.

Narayana further informed that the government has allotted 1,277 acres of land to 136 companies to promote commercial and industrial growth in the capital region. However, he acknowledged that 31 companies have agreed to develop 629.3 acres, while 13 organizations had their land allotments canceled due to project setbacks in the past five years.

Addressing the issue of land pooling and layouts, the minister assured that the farmers who contributed their lands under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) will receive their residential and commercial plots by 2028. He also stated that previous irregularities, such as the allocation of lands under the R5 Zone, would be rectified, and alternate lands will be provided to affected beneficiaries.

Narayana noted that the government has already called for tenders for 73 major works, of which 62 have been finalized. Tenders have also been invited for the development of trunk infrastructure, stormwater drains, and road networks, along with gravity canals for the Kondaveeti Vagu project. Recalling the political turmoil, Narayana criticized the previous government for creating confusion over Amaravati's status by proposing three capitals.

He asserted that despite these challenges, the government has now cleared legal hurdles and has fast-tracked the capital works. "Amaravati was chosen as the capital in the Assembly between 2014-19, and it was the same Assembly where former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy approved it.

However, political changes led to proposals for three capitals, which severely hindered Amaravati's development," Narayana remarked. The Minister reaffirmed that the government is now focused on completing Amaravati's infrastructure within the stipulated timeframe and ensuring the city emerges as a world-class capital for Andhra Pradesh.