The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government plans to resume stalled construction work in Amaravati, the state capital. It has formed a team to ascertain the structural integrity of unfinished constructions.
The previous government has halted all construction work in recent years due to policy changes and priority shifts, leaving many projects unfinished. Hence, this decision has been taken.
The sudden halt has caused considerable damage: foundations have been submerged and exposed steel reinforcement has corroded. As a result, trees have grown at project sites, making them look like “Ghost City”.
The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) has recently tried to clear the forests.
Andhra Pradesh Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana said the AP government will study with IIT engineers to analyze the structural integrity of stalled constructions in Amaravati.
The IIST Hyderabad team will ensure the stability of buildings designated for public representatives, officials, and employees, while the IIST Chennai team will evaluate the strength of the foundations of iconic buildings.
According to Deccan Chronicle “We will restart construction based on the reports provided by the IITs,” the minister said.
Narayana said that the capital development master plan prepared earlier will be implemented in three phases. Rs 48,000 crore will be spent in the first phase of developing the city. The second phase will involve the construction of metro rail infrastructure and the public transport system.
Narayana stated last month “In the next two and a half years, we will complete the development of the state capital, Amaravati,”
He also said that visits have been made to Singapore, China, Japan, Russia, Malaysia, and other countries to make the best plans for Amaravati.
Tenders worth Rs 48,000 crore were earlier invited to provide comprehensive facilities in the capital, out of which Rs 9,000 crore has already been paid.
In 2015, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made Amaravati the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Most government offices, including the secretariat, were moved to Amaravati. Naidu’s goal was to make Amaravati a world-class capital that represents people’s dreams of a happy, liveable, and sustainable city.
Given its strategic location, between the two nodal urban centers of Vijayawada and Guntur in the capital region (8,600 sq km), Amaravati was chosen as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
In 2019, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party came to power and proposed a three-capital model for decentralized administration, challenging the ambitious plans of the Telugu Desam Party.