Amaravati: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed his vision to revive Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s capital city, stating that Visakhapatnam would serve as the financial capital, with a High Court bench and new industries to be established in Kurnool. Speaking at the capital region on Saturday, he underscored Amaravati’s future as a self-financed project and dismissed claims that the project required excessive funds as mere “mispropaganda.”
Naidu emphasized that his administration is focused on Andhra Pradesh’s Vision 2047, an ambitious development framework. He noted the overwhelming public support for Amaravati’s growth, citing that 29,881 farmers voluntarily donated 34,241 acres for the capital—a record in land pooling worldwide. The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the women who protested against the former government’s decisions regarding Amaravati, recognizing their resilience as integral to the city’s revival.
Reflecting on the state’s financial challenges post-bifurcation, Naidu criticized the previous government for delaying Amaravati’s progress under the guise of insufficient funds. He pointed to Hyderabad’s growth model, achieved without heavy government spending, as a successful blueprint for Amaravati’s self-sustaining development. Naidu highlighted that Amaravati’s development is aimed at creating employment opportunities and enhancing welfare initiatives.
Institutions such as VIT, SRM, and Amrita Universities are already operational in Amaravati, with more prestigious names, including the Xavier School of Management (XLRI) and a planned Law School, joining soon. Naidu expressed his ambition for Amaravati to host branches of India’s top ten institutions, further strengthening its educational and employment landscape.
The Chief Minister revealed that he has requested central support for a bullet train linking Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Amaravati. He shared that the World Bank has approved a loan for Amaravati’s development, with projects scheduled to be completed on time. Plans to interlink rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna, and Pennar, are also underway to boost resources for the region.
Naidu condemned the financial toll left by the previous administration, which added Rs 7,000 crore to the state’s burden. However, he noted that the Center has agreed to provide Rs 15,000 crore to support Andhra Pradesh, and construction of residential towers for ministers, MLAs, and All India Service officers in Amaravati is progressing.
He closed by underscoring the coalition between the TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP, describing it as a collective effort to safeguard Andhra Pradesh’s future. Naidu encouraged citizens to permanently remove forces he described as “evil” from the state, reinforcing his commitment to realizing Amaravati’s full potential as the cultural and economic heart of Andhra Pradesh.
