Amaravati, the new Greenfield capital of Andhra Pradesh, is experiencing a remarkable turnaround, much like a phoenix rising from its ashes after five years of stagnation. The city is now bustling with activity.
According to a senior official at the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), preparations are underway to issue tenders worth ₹45,249 crore for various construction projects in the Capital Region within a week. Initial efforts have already commenced, including the clearing of shrub forests, and approved projects are underway.
The upcoming construction works include the Assembly building, a high-rise tower occupying 103 acres, a 47-storey Chief Minister’s office, a new High Court building, and essential infrastructure, including roads spanning 579 kilometers.
The first projects expected to be completed are residential quarters for Ministers, Legislators, and IAS officers, which were nearly finished before progress was halted by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government.
A team of experts from prestigious IITs assessed the partially constructed buildings and confirmed that there was no damage, stating that the structures are still robust.
The total revised estimated expenditure for government buildings and basic infrastructure in the region stands at ₹62,000 crore, with ₹45,249 crore of that already approved for construction. Additional approvals for the remaining projects are anticipated soon, according to the official.
This capital project initially launched by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) during its tenure from 2014-2019 was put on hold by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy after it took power in 2019. The government proposed a decentralized capital model, placing the executive, legislative, and judicial capitals in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Kurnool respectively, which led to the suspension of all constructions in the capital region and its subsequent transformation into a shrubland.
However, the capital region is now taking on a new appearance, with the forest cleared and streetlights installed. The NDA government has also reinvigorated pending land allocations for major educational institutions, as well as central government offices and banks, including the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD.
