Published Feb 03, 2026 | 1:02 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 03, 2026 | 1:02 PM
Chandrababu Naidu wants a Ferris wheel like the London Eye on the banks of the Krishna in Amaravati.
The British employed the divide-and-rule tactic in pre-1947 India. The present-day UK has brought Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy into agreement on a shared dream.
Both want something similar to a slice of London in their respective states. They want grand cities like London-upon-Thames, situated by the Krishna and the Musi rivers, in their respective states.
The Thames, the London Eye and the enchanting views of a wealthy global city do look stunning. But what is sauce for the goose may not always be sauce for the gander.
Whether those London elements will sit comfortably on the banks of the Krishna and the Musi is a question only time will answer.
Revanth Reddy said he had studied riverfront models in cities such as London, New York, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, and observed the revitalisation of river ecosystems. Pictured, the chief minister at the Dubai waterfront. (File pic)
The Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to install a look-alike London Eye — a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames — on the banks of the Krishna River in Amaravati.
It is being projected as part of its grand plan to shape the capital into a modern, world-class city with strong tourism appeal. The Ferris wheel is expected to become a landmark, offering panoramic views of the riverfront.
As it does, it will gently spin hopes of leisure tourism, private investment and Instagram reels.
Officials argued that just as the London Eye became a symbol of the Thames riverfront’s regeneration, Amaravati’s version will blend urban aesthetics with recreation. The government wants Amaravati to have an identity of a vibrant cultural hub, albeit the tropical breeze replacing the chilly winds, and with lots of Andhra’s Sun.
To ensure no detail is missed, Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana is currently in London doing some serious sightseeing. From the redeveloped Battersea Power Station— now a bustling tourist hotspot — to the Thames riverfront model, everything is under scrutiny.
He also visited the 443-foot-high London Eye, presumably to see how well it spins and whether it can handle Telugu selfie crowds.
Not to be outdone, Telangana’s Revanth Reddy has his sights firmly set on the Musi River.
The much-talked-about Musi Riverfront Project is being pitched as a transformative urban renewal and ecological restoration exercise. The Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd. has already been formed to give institutional shape to the ambition.
Before firming up his plan, Revanth Reddy, too, made a “pilgrimage” to London, studying the Thames Riverfront Project—proof, perhaps, that when it comes to river rejuvenation, all roads lead to London. He reportedly held discussions with experts associated with Thames management, learning how a troubled river was turned into a living, breathing part of the city.
Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana appear to be the only states so thoroughly smitten by London’s charms. While the rest of India seems content being Indian, these two capitals are eyeing a distinctly British makeover.
As the BRS likes to point out with a knowing smile, perhaps this is just another sign of how Naidu and Reddy think alike—after all, the guru-shishya bond works in mysterious, and occasionally transcontinental, ways.
Whether the Thames can truly be replicated in Andhra and Telangana remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: London has never been busier — in spirit — than it is right now in Amaravati and Hyderabad.
