Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana announced on Monday that the closure of old tenders, which had been hindering the development of Amaravati, will pave the way for the issuance of new tenders. He expressed confidence that all development projects in the capital would be completed within the next three years.
Speaking to the media at the State Secretariat, Minister Narayana detailed the outcomes of the 39th meeting of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The meeting focused on reviewing various development initiatives for Amaravati.
From 2014 to 2019, tenders worth Rs 41,000 crore were issued for various development projects in Amaravati, with approximately Rs 35,000 crore in works initiated. Key projects included the construction of the High Court and Assembly buildings, major roadways, and accommodations for judges and government officials. However, the minister criticised the previous administration’s focus on a three-capital proposal, which he claimed diverted attention and resources away from these critical developments. He noted that many construction companies involved in these projects had not received payment for completed work.
To address the issues surrounding old tenders, the government established a technical committee of chief engineers in July 2024.
This committee was tasked with developing procedures for closing the old tenders and submitted a report on October 29 containing 23 recommendations. Following a thorough discussion in the CRDA meeting, these recommendations were approved.
Minister Narayana stated that new tenders would be called by December 31 for all projects, excluding the High Court and Assembly. Tenders for these two critical buildings will be issued in January. He expressed confidence that Amaravati would emerge as one of the top five cities globally within five years.
Additionally, the World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 15,000 crore for the development of Amaravati, with representatives emphasising the need for swift completion of flood prevention works. The government plans to construct reservoirs within the 217 sq. km core capital area and surrounding regions, following designs inspired by the Netherlands. Projects include reservoirs at Kondaveeti, Palavagu, and Gravity Canal within the city and storage facilities in Neerukonda, Krishnayapalem, Sakhamuru, and Undavalli.
Narayana also reaffirmed the ongoing construction of bypass roads around Amaravati and the plans for an Inner Ring Road and Outer Ring Road, as previously decided.
