Andhra gears up for relaunch of works on Amaravati 2.0

Hyderabad: Almost a year after the TDP-led NDA government took over the reins of the state, Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to relaunch construction work on its capital, Amaravati.

These projects were stalled by the previous YSRCP government, which had proposed establishing three capitals instead of a single, grand capital in Amaravati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to relaunch these Amaravati works on May 2. Sources in the Andhra government have confirmed that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has communicated the date of Modi's visit, and the government has formed a committee consisting of six ministers from N Chandrababu Naidu's cabinet to oversee arrangements. Many projects in Amaravati have already been put out for tender.

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has finalized tenders for the development of Amaravati 2.0, marking a significant milestone in the state's capital development project.

The tenders were floated for completing pending building, road, and other development projects that were stalled during the previous government's tenure.

The CRDA invited tenders for road development projects in the capital region, including trunk infrastructure, stormwater drains, water supply networks, sewerage systems, utility ducts, reuse water lines, pedestrian paths, cycle tracks, avenue plantation, and street furniture.

While the estimated cost of these trunk infrastructure and road projects has been pegged at Rs 4,313.78 crore, the overall works for which tenders have been finalized have been estimated at Rs 31,000 crore. A total of 41 contractors participated in the bidding process, with MVRB, NCC, BSR, RVR, and Megha emerging as successful bidders for several works.

The projects include residential towers for MLAs, MLCs, and All India Service officers (IAS), ministers' and judges' bungalows, secretaries' bungalows, and development of Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) zones.

"After extensive scrutiny and several rounds of processing, tenders have been finalized, and in some instances, Letters of Award (LoAs) have also been given to the successful bidding firms. As soon as the Prime Minister formally relaunches the works, they are expected to gain pace. We are aiming to complete the works within a year," a senior government official told DH.

The Union government has already facilitated a Rs 15,000 crore loan from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The state government has received additional assurance from HUDCO and German development bank KfW for another Rs 15,000 crore loan. The Naidu government is also exploring several other resources to mobilize funds for Amaravati.

In 2016-17, the Andhra Pradesh administration relocated from the joint capital of Hyderabad to the temporary secretariat in Velagapudi. Around 2,500 employees working there currently lack government housing and reside in nearby cities of Vijayawada, Guntur, and Mangalagiri. To address this issue, the previous TDP government had initiated construction of multi-storied residential complexes in the capital for officials and employees.

CRDA began constructing multi-storied apartments with international standards and comprehensive amenities for All India Service officers, MLAs, MLCs, gazetted officers, non-gazetted officers (NGOs), and fourth-class employees. Construction of 12 towers with 288 flats was initiated for MLAs and MLCs, and six towers for All India Service officers. After the YSRCP government came to power in 2019, these works were halted. Currently, the residential complexes for public representatives, officials, and employees are 66-80% complete, while the construction of bungalows for ministers and chief secretaries is only 27-28% complete.