AP govt approvesRs 24,276 cr budget

 In a crucial meeting of the 43rd Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Authority, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved a budget of Rs 24,276 crore for the construction of trunk roads, layouts, and iconic buildings for Amaravati, the State’s new capital city.
Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, P Narayana, announced the approval during a press conference held at the State secretariat in Amaravati on Monday. He highlighted that a total of Rs 45,249.24 crore has been sanctioned across the last four CRDA meetings for various development works in Amaravati.
The Minister provided details of key infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, which will span 103 acres. The Assembly building will cover 11.22 lakh square feet and stand 250 metres high.
Minister Narayana also mentioned that on non-Assembly session days, the public will have access to the building, offering them a view of the capital city.
Plans for the High Court building were also revealed, with the structure set to cover 20.32 lakh square feet over 42 acres. The building will rise 55 metres high and consist of eight floors, at a projected cost of Rs 1,048 crore.
Additionally, the Government Administrative (GAD) building will span 17.03 lakh square feet over 47 floors, alongside five towers totalling 68.88 lakh square feet, with a combined cost of Rs 4,688 crore.
The development of major roads as part of the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) infrastructure will receive Rs 9,699 crore, covering 579.5 kilometres. Of this, Rs 7,794 crore will be allocated for trunk roads, while Rs 318 crore will be set aside for Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) works.
Minister Narayana assured that tendering for the projects would commence by next Monday, to complete as many tenders as possible by the end of the month. He further assured that all pending tenders would be finalised by the end of January. Despite challenges, he emphasised that Amaravati’s construction will be completed within three years, positioning the capital as one of the top five cities in the world.
The Minister also criticised the previous government for allegedly attempting to tarnish the current administration’s reputation. He accused them of causing significant damage to the Amaravati project, which had led to a rise in construction costs. Narayana pointed out a 41% increase in tower construction costs and a 28% rise in costs for the High Court building.
Regarding land pooling in the 29 villages, the Minister assured that all necessary measures would be taken, ensuring full justice for the farmers of Amaravati.