With the Prime Minister Narendra Modi relaunching of capital Amaravati works on Friday, the `Brand Amaravati’, that was pushed into cold storage by the previous YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime is set to be revived and this will lead to intensify construction activity after a gap of over six years.
When the coalition government under the TDP came to power last year, it focused on the capital works. First, the removal of 25,000 acres of trees was completed at a cost of Rs. 36 crore. An expert committee was formed to review the resumption of the works stopped by the previous government and their status. The committee made 23 suggestions, which the government approved.
Including the amount received from the World Bank and ADB and the Center’s matching grant, Rs. 4,285 crore was received on April 1. Rs. 11,000 crore will be borrowed from HUDCO. As part of the Amaravati reconstruction works, a total of 100 works are being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs. 77,249 crore.
On Friday, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone for works worth Rs. 49,040 crore. CM Chandrababu Naidu is busy restoring the image of Brand Amaravati, which has been tarnished by Jagan’s behavior. The government’s measures have yielded positive results and industrialists have come forward to set up their offices in Amaravati.
Already, VIT, SRM, and Amrutha Universities have been established. In the coming period, institutions like Tata Innovation Hub, BITS Pilani Law School, and XLRI University are coming. It is planned to make Amaravati a full-fledged AI city. A quantum computing village is going to be established to make advanced technology available.
Aiming at making Amaravati a self-sufficient city, an area of 8,603 square kilometers has been identified as the capital area. Of this, the capital city will be built in an area of 217 sq. km. The core capital has been designed in an area of 16.9 sq. km.
Amaravati has been planned as a pleasant world-class city with wide roads, underground power lines, water supply, and a blue and green concept. 9 cities have been planned under 9 themes, focusing on 9 activities such as government, law, medicine, tourism, knowledge finance, sports, media, and tourism.
The designs of the main offices have been done by world-renowned design firm Norman Poster. The cost of the first phase of work between 2014-19 has been estimated at Rs. 55,343 crore. Tenders have been called for 55 works worth Rs. 42,500 crore.
By 2019, works worth Rs. 5,587 crore have been completed, and bills of Rs. 4,318 crore have been paid. 30 percent of the capital area has been allocated for greenery and water resources. Along with IRR and ORR, seven national highways have been designed to connect Amaravati. 3,300 km of cycling and walking tracks will be set up, as well as an international airport. 1277 acres have been allocated to 131 central government and private institutions.
