The YSRCP government halted the Amaravati capital project, opting instead for a contentious “three-capital” model—Visakhapatnam (administrative), Kurnool (judicial), and Amaravati (legislative)—derailing Naidu’s original vision early on
Published Apr 30, 2025 | 7:00 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 30, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Narendra Modi to re-launch construction of Andhra Pradesh's futuristic capital(Screengrab)
Synopsis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Amaravati on 2 May to relaunch construction of Andhra Pradesh’s greenfield capital. He’ll lay the foundation for projects worth ₹1 lakh crore, including government buildings. The event, led by CM Chandrababu Naidu and APCRDA, will span 250 acres and feature a tech exhibition, large crowd arrangements, and key cabinet oversight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Amaravati on 2 May to relaunch the construction of Andhra Pradesh’s greenfield capital city, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s development. At the event, set for 4:00 PM behind the interim secretariat at Velagapudi, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for projects valued at nearly ₹1 lakh crore.
The projects include iconic structures such as the Amaravati Government Complex, High Court, and Legislative Assembly. The Andhra Pradesh government is planning for a massive turnout in lakhs. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s vision for a futuristic, greenfield Amaravati is a top priority, and he appears determined to realise it.
The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) is organizing the event across a 250-acre site, which will include a large dais for the main ceremony, photo galleries, an Immersive Tech Exhibition, and a 3D model of the government complex.
Seven roads have been designated for smooth access, with provisions for water, food, and other amenities to accommodate the expected large crowd. A cabinet sub-committee, comprising ministers Payyavula Keshav, Kollu Ravindra, Satyakumar Yadav, Nadendla Manohar, and P Narayana, is overseeing the event preparations.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary includes a roadshow from a helipad near the secretariat to the main venue, commencing at approximately 3:20 PM. This will be followed by cultural programmes and the relaunch ceremony at 3:45 PM. The event will also feature the inauguration of 92 projects under Phase I, valued at ₹64,910 crore, including five iconic towers for the secretariat and government departments, costing ₹4,668 crore.
In fact, Amaravati’s journey began on Vijaya Dasimi day on 22 October, 2015, when Prime Minister Modi laid its foundation stone at Uddandarayunipalem, for futuristic capital designed by UK-based Foster and Partners. The event is being organised to develop the entire 217.23 sq km of area between Vijayawada and Guntur into an economic hub, expected to house 3.5 million people and create 1.5 million jobs.
After winning the 2014 elections in the truncated Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu acquired 33,000 acres of land from farmers under land-pooling scheme, promising them developed plots and monetary benefits in return. From 2015 to 2019, Naidu pursued the project despite significant challenges and the criticism of opposition. Naidu could complete the construction of only the interim secretariat, assembly, high court, and residential quarters when elections arrived in 2019 in which the TDP suffered an ignominious defeat.
The subsequent YSRCP government shelved the project, pursuing a controversial “three-capital” plan—Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital, and Amaravati as the legislative capital— effectively killing Naidu’s Amaravati’s dream in its infancy
With the TDP-led NDA’s return to power in 2024, Naidu breathed a new life into Amaravati project. Armed with experience of transformed rocky and sparsely populated terrain Madhapur in Hyderabad into Cyberabad which became an IT Hub, he is now determined to make Amaravati a self-sustaining, tech-driven capital.
The APCRDA has approved tenders for 68 projects worth ₹42,360 crore, with the central government facilitating ₹15,000 crore in financial aid and loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
The central government’s support includes approvals for a new railway line, outer ring road, and national highways, ensuring connectivity. The state is exploring public-private partnerships and a special purpose vehicle to bridge funding gaps, while the APCRDA is launching campaigns to land global investors from countries like Singapore, Japan, and the UK to give Amaravati the push that it needs.
On 25 April, 2025, Naidu flew to Delhi and invited Prime Minister Modi. Naidu considers the project as symbolic of the “self-respect of the Telugu people,” a slogan which has distant echo in a similar call given by NT Rama Rao, which propelled the TDP to power in 1983.
The state government now aims to complete permanent government structures and road networks within three years, with additional plans for an international airport, sports city, and further land acquisition of 30,000 acres. This tight timeline is intended to showcase the TDP’s ability to deliver on its promises ahead of the 2029 elections.
For Naidu, the relaunch of Amaravati is more than a construction project. It is in fact a symbol of TDP’s resilience in regaining power after the 2019 defeat and picking up the project from where it lay. In Amaravati, Naidu visualises a green, smart city with nine theme cities and 27 townships. As Prime Minister Modi’s arrival approaches, optimism among those who contributed land through the land-pooling scheme is soaring high, anticipating a prosperous future for themselves and the state.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
