Project to be ready by 2026

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the Polavaram project will be completed by October 2026. He made this declaration during a review meeting on the project during his second visit to the site.
Emphasising the need for the project to be recognised as an iconic venture, Chief Minister Naidu directed officials on Monday to expedite the project’s completion on a war footing.
Accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues, officials, and representatives from allied companies, Naidu visited the Polavaram project site and chaired a meeting in the conference hall. He issued clear instructions to the concerned officers, stressing that work should be carried out at a rapid pace, with initial tasks and timelines clearly defined.
The Chief Minister urged officials to work more efficiently and with a realistic perspective to meet the set targets. He also advised the Irrigation wing and Megha’s representatives to address technical issues promptly and prepare precise plans for timely completion of the works.
Naidu stated that the next meeting would primarily focus on reviewing the project’s progress and the implementation of the plans. He underscored the importance of identifying technical aspects and ensuring milestones are achieved. He further stressed that work on the diaphragm wall and the Earth-cum-Rock-Fill (ECRF) dam should be undertaken simultaneously.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that the ECRF gap-1 works would begin by December 24 and be completed by February 26. He instructed that the gap-2 works be finished by December 27 and that all related tasks be completed simultaneously on a war footing.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to interlink the Left and Right canals. He directed that contractors and officials draw up action plans to complete material shifting and the trial run within the specified time frame.
Naidu assured that necessary manpower would be provided for land acquisition and that a dedicated officer would be appointed for supervision. He insisted that all land acquisition and related works be completed by June 26. The Chief Minister also urged that proposals for granting permissions be sent in accordance with norms and prioritised to ensure swift completion of the works.
Naidu clarified that the project works must strictly adhere to the Supreme Court’s directions, particularly in regard to rehabilitation and related matters. Special Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad provided a detailed update on the progress of the project and other related issues.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu, Minister for Housing, Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathi, Minister for Civil Supplies Nadendla Manohar, Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar, and local MLAs Chirri Bal Raju, Miriyala Sirisha Devi, Maddipati Venkat Raju, Battula Balaramakrishna, Pitani Satyanarayana, Chintamaneni Prabhakar, Kamineni Srinivas, Kolikapudi Srinivasa Rao, among others.