Govt to seek public opinion on ‘Rushikonda Palace’

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the State government will explore ways to utilise the Rushikonda Palace, taking input from the people of Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister on Saturday, along with Ministers and MLAs, visited the lavish ‘Rushikonda Palace’ in Visakhapatnam, built on 61 acres during the tenure of former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Speaking to the media later, Naidu criticised the palace’s construction, claiming it violated numerous laws. “I have never seen a Chief Minister destroy the environment to fulfill his whims. Disturbing details are now surfacing. Before, no one, including the media, was allowed near the site; it was a closely guarded secret. The YSRCP government misled the National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court, and the High Court,” he asserted.
He emphasised how a few individuals had manipulated the State Government for their own agenda. “My friend Pawan Kalyan (Deputy CM) and I tried multiple times to visit this place, but were denied. Today, we have the responsibility to share the truth with the public,” he added.
Naidu attributed his power to the democracy that the people entrusted to him by electing the TDP-led NDA alliance in the recent elections. He noted that Rushikonda is one of the most beautiful locations in Vizag, where sages once meditated.
Now, palaces have been built with rooms offering sea views. Only kings and emperors of the past lived in such luxury. I doubt even the President of India has a corridor as grand as the one in Rushikonda Palace,” he remarked.
Naidu expressed his shock at the extravagant spending by the previous government, revealing that Rs 36 lakh was spent on a bathtub alone, along with expensive fans and chandeliers. “I’ve traveled to many countries and met numerous dignitaries, but I’ve never witnessed such opulence in my long political career,” he noted.
He recalled that YSRCP leaders claimed the palace was meant for the President and Prime Minister, who actually stayed at the modest Navy Guest House of the Eastern Naval Command.
The Chief Minister suggested that the Rs 400 Crore spent on the palace could have been better used to complete vital projects in northern Andhra Pradesh, such as filling potholes and repairing roads.
He called for a debate on accountability and urged the public to decide if they would allow such individuals to hold significant positions. “We will open these buildings to the public because I cannot comprehend their purpose. There’s no need for a camp office here. They need to answer if they respect the people and fear their judgment. The past government assumed it would remain in power forever and built palaces across the state, deceiving the people of Visakhapatnam in the name of a capital city,” he said.
Naidu invited suggestions for the future use of the palace and promised that his government would soon determine its fate.