Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, earlier today, inaugurated a state-of-the-art building for the CRDA in Amaravati. Later, he addressed the farmers who gave their lands for Amaravati and explained to them how he envisions developing the city on par with Hyderabad.
“The other day, an acre in Raidurg cost 175 Crore. Back when I started HITEC City, one acre there is one Lakh Rupees only. Just imagine how many times the value has grown. I plan the same for the farmers who contributed their lands for Amaravati,” Naidu said.
Naidu also mentioned how the Government is not spending a single rupee for Amaravati construction because it is a Self-monetizing Project. The land farmers gave will fund the project once the development is completed, he said.
All this is good, but the Government’s plan for Amaravati is a bit confusing.
Chandrababu Naidu’s Government is being proactive in bringing investments to the state. Nara Lokesh is playing a very key role. We already got some marquee investments like Google, TCS, Cognizant, ArcelorMittal, BPCL, etc.
But then, for some reason, all these investments are directed to Vishakapatnam.
The Government already announced its commitment to “One Capital, Diverse Development’ but then, it is important to concentrate on Amaravati first because Vishakapatnam is already in decent shape.
If some or all of these companies are directed to Amaravati, an ecosystem will automatically develop, and we will see the start of Amaravati as a Growth Engine to Andhra Pradesh, as it was supposed to be.
But then, for some reason, all the companies are being directed to Vizag.
Vishakapatnam is already a developed city. The first priority should be Amaravati. At least, Amaravati should get more focus than Vishakapatnam when it comes to bringing new investments. Surprisingly, that is not there at least till now.
The Government had already started Trunk Infrastructure development in Amaravati. It is also important that a business environment also developed in the Capital Region before the next election.
Only then will Amaravati be sealed as the capital forever.
Amaravati will still be vulnerable to Thuglaq acts like moving capital, three capitals, etc, if the population migration and livable environment are in place by 2029.
Also, it is the responsibility of the Government towards the farmers who gave their lands for the Capital and struggled a lot between 2019 and 2024.
So, it is better for the Government to divulge its roadmap for Amaravati and also ensure some companies come to the Capital Region as well so that it will not remain a Ghost City.
