The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, approved development projects worth INR 8,821.44 crore for Amaravathi, focusing heavily on road construction. Urban Development Minister P. Narayana shared that INR 3,807 crore has been allotted for roads in areas acquired under the land pooling scheme, with INR 4,521 crore for trunk roads and INR 492 crore for ministerial and judicial bungalows. Although works worth INR 41,000 crore were tendered between 2014 and 2019, only INR 5,000 crore worth of projects were completed, causing construction costs to rise significantly. The tendering process is set to begin by mid-December and conclude by the end of the month, contingent upon resolving pending legal and design issues.
The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, recently sanctioned development works amounting to INR 8,821.44 crore for the capital city of Amaravathi. These projects primarily target the construction of roads and other critical infrastructure in the region.
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana, addressing the media earlier this week, stated that INR 3,807 crore has been allocated specifically for road construction in areas where land has been pooled. Additionally, trunk roads will be developed at an estimated cost of INR 4,521 crore, while INR 492 crore has been earmarked for the construction of ministerial and judicial bungalows.
The CRDA has previously approved projects worth INR 11,471 crore, bringing the total sanctioned works to INR 20,292.46 crore. The cleared layouts cover approximately 236 kilometres, including villages such as Nelapadu, Rayapudi, Ananthavaram, and Dondapadu, while trunk roads spanning 97.5 kilometres have also been approved.
Minister Narayana highlighted that tenders worth INR 41,000 crore had been issued between 2014 and 2019. However, only INR 5,000 crore worth of works have been completed so far, leading to delays and increased costs. He explained that the cost of road construction has risen by 25-28%, while building construction costs have surged by 35-55%. He added that the escalation could have been avoided had the works been completed on time and Amaravathi retained its status as the state capital.
The Minister assured that the tendering process for the remaining works will commence by mid-December and be completed by the end of the month. However, he noted that some legal complications persist, particularly concerning the involvement of designers from Singapore. He clarified that Chief Minister Naidu's approval is required to reinvite these designers, with a final decision expected after further consultations.
The CRDA's approval of INR 8,821.44 crore worth of works marks a significant step forward for Amaravathi's development, with an emphasis on improving road infrastructure and ministerial facilities. Despite past delays and rising costs, the renewed focus on completing the pending projects aims to restore momentum to the capital city's development. However, unresolved legal and procedural hurdles, including issues related to Singapore-based designers, could pose further challenges. A clear roadmap for tendering and project execution is expected to drive progress, ensuring Amaravathi's infrastructure aligns with its envisioned capital status.
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