The fresh land acquisition plan is in addition to the 34,000 acres already taken over under the Land Pooling Scheme during the Telugu Desam Party’s first term in office.
Published Jun 05, 2025 | 1:38 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 05, 2025 | 1:38 PM
Amaravati capital city design by previous TDP government. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government under N Chandrababu Naidu is going ahead with its plan to acquire an additional 45,000 acres for Amaravati. Despite concerns raised by various quarters, the government seemed confident to develop the properties in time and provide the benefits to the landowners.
Despite concerns raised by various quarters, the Andhra Pradesh government is proceeding with its plan to acquire an additional 40,000 to 45,000 acres to support large-scale infrastructure projects in Amaravati, the state’s futuristic capital city.
The fresh land acquisition plan is in addition to the 34,000 acres already taken over under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) during the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) first term in office between 2014 and 2019.
A modern international airport spanning approximately 5,000 acres will be the centerpiece of Amaravati Phase II, alongside smart industries and a sports city.
Announcing the plan for additional land acquisition recently, State Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana said that while the planned 45,000 acres would seem extensive, only about 25 percent of the land will be utilised for public purposes.
The remaining land, the minister said, will be developed and returned to farmers under the LPS, a mechanism the government claimed was designed to benefit landowners.
Splitting up the extent of land required, Narayana said the government required 2,500 acres for smart industries, another 2,500 acres for a sports city, and 5,000 acres for the airport, totaling 10,000 acres for these flagship projects.
An additional 5,000 acres would be allocated for other infrastructure developments, bringing the total acquisition to 15,000 acres.
The government argued that opting for land pooling over traditional land acquisition would ensure greater benefits for farmers. “If we go for outright land acquisition, 10,000 acres would suffice. But by pooling 45,000 acres, farmers would gain significantly as they would receive developed plots proportional to their surrendered land,” the minister said.
The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has been tasked with overseeing the development and returning the plots to landowners within three years.
The state government has been laying the groundwork for acquiring land for Phase II of Amaravati for some time and has engaged with farmers in regions such as Pedakurapadu and Tadikonda.
According to official sources, farmers in Pedakurapadu have agreed to surrender 26,000 acres, while those in Tadikonda consented to provide 12,000 acres, totalling 38,000 acres. The government was actively scouting for the remaining 7,000 acres to meet its target.
The government’s approach builds on the success of the 2015 LPS, which facilitated the acquisition of 30,000 acres for Amaravati, with farmers receiving developed plots and incentives such as waived stamp duties and annual payments of ₹25,000 per acre until the completion of the development process.
The government has been looking at Amaravati as a modern administrative and industrial hub, with the proposed smart industries and sports city playing pivotal roles in its development. Officials argued that a major sports city could attract international events, boosting ancillary industries like hospitality and tourism.
They cited the success of Hyderabad International Airport, which faced significant criticism when 5,000 acres were acquired under Naidu’s leadership in the early 2000s. Today, Shamshabad has been credited with driving Hyderabad’s rapid growth, handling a volume of flights unimaginable at the Old Begumpet Airport.
With a total of 78,000 acres under land pooling (including the earlier 34,000 acres), the government has plans to transform the region between Guntur and Vijayawada into a bustling corridor, with Amaravati as the centerpiece and Mangalagiri emerging as a vibrant city. The government projected significant economic benefits, including job creation and industrial growth.
For instance, land allocations for projects worth ₹17,808 crore in Amaravati were expected to generate 32,726 jobs.
However, the plan has evoked significant opposition from farmers, activists, and political groups, who raised concerns about the loss of fertile land, inadequate compensation, and putting corporate interests ahead of local needs. Critics argued that the acquisition threatened the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, including Dalits, who were assigned lands decades ago.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been vocal, accusing the government of favouring corporate agendas. It points out that the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has been holding 34,000 acres of underutilised land, which could be developed instead of acquiring new tracts from farmers.
Scepticism among farmers has been further fuelled by experiences where promised benefits from land pooling failed to materialise. The cancellation of infrastructure projects worth ₹50,000 crore by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government in 2019, including several in Amaravati, has deepened distrust in government commitments.
A 2015 notification to acquire 3,892 acres across 10 villages under the Land Acquisition Act triggered protests, as farmers resisted coercive measures and demanded voluntary participation.
Political and legal challenges added further complexity. The CPI(M) and other groups alleged a lack of transparency in the acquisition process, questioning the necessity of such vast land requirements. They argued that the government’s focus on mega-infrastructure projects disregards the socioeconomic impacts on displaced communities, particularly small farmers and farm labourers who relied on the land for their livelihood.
However, Minister Narayana remained optimistic about the timeline and execution of the projects.
“This time, it won’t take long to allot plots to farmers and complete infrastructure projects,” he said, noting that the groundwork, including the master plan and building designs, was delayed during the TDP’s first term.
By 2018, tenders were issued, but a change in government following the 2019 elections halted the progress. With tenders now finalised and a four-year timeline set, Narayana expressed confidence that the projects would be completed a year ahead of schedule, before the next elections.
The government has been touting the LPS as a farmer-friendly model, contrasting it with traditional acquisition methods that offered less compensation. By returning developed land to farmers, along with financial incentives, the state was aiming to balance development goals with the interests of landowners.
However, convincing farmers remains a challenge, given the state’s financial constraints and historical distrust.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
