The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) in Andhra Pradesh has approved projects worth Rs 8,822 crore for the development of Amaravati, the state’s capital city. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, focusing on the infrastructure development of Amaravati.
As part of the initiatives, Rs 3,807 crore has been allocated for the construction of roads in areas where land has been acquired through the land pooling scheme. Additionally, Rs 4,521 crore will be invested in the development of trunk roads to improve connectivity, while Rs 492 crore will go towards constructing bungalows for Ministers and High Court judges. Earlier, the CRDA had cleared works worth Rs 11,471 crore, bringing the total approved works to Rs 20,292.46 crore. The approved projects include the development of layouts spanning 236 kilometers, covering areas like Nelapadu, Rayapudi, Ananthavaram, and Dondapadu. Furthermore, 97.5 km of trunk roads have been greenlit for construction.
Minister P Narayana emphasized that despite calling tenders for works worth Rs 41,000 crore between 2014-2019, only projects worth Rs 5,000 crore had been completed. He noted that delays in construction led to an increase in the overall cost of projects by 25% to 28%, with building costs rising by 35% to 55%. Narayana assured that tenders for the new projects would be issued by December 15, with completion expected by the end of the month. However, some delays occurred due to legal cases involving Singapore-based designers, and decisions regarding their re-engagement will be made in consultation with the Chief Minister.
