Economic Survey: Amaravati offers rare urban opportunity; Vijayawada, Tirupati among top 10 liveable cities

New Delhi/Amaravati: Amaravati, being developed as a greenfield city, offers a rare strategic opportunity to build a future-ready, people-centric urban hub, the Economic Survey has said.

The Survey also ranked Vijayawada and Tirupati among the country’s top-10 most liveable cities based on ease-of-living indicators.

The Survey said Amaravati, being developed as a greenfield city, offers a chance to design urban life in a planned and sustainable manner from the outset, avoiding the pitfalls of congestion, unregulated growth, and service shortages seen in older metros.

Greenfield advantage for Amaravati

The Survey noted that it is far more effective to design cities thoughtfully at the greenfield stage than to retrofit solutions after population pressure builds up.

Amaravati, it said, is evolving from a blank slate into a well-planned urban centre that can ensure ease of living through integrated infrastructure, mobility, housing, and public services.

Rather than relying solely on heavy infrastructure, cities anchored in education, innovation, and cross-sector linkages tend to grow faster and more sustainably, the Survey observed, citing Amaravati as a key example in Andhra Pradesh.

Vijayawada, Tirupati in Top-10 Liveable Cities

Vijayawada and Tirupati have been ranked among the country’s top-10 most liveable cities based on ease-of-living indicators.

The Survey pointed out that, unlike megacities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, or Mumbai, these two Andhra Pradesh cities are not yet facing severe population stress, while still offering good access to infrastructure, services, and employment opportunities.

The other cities in the top-10 list are Pune, Navi Mumbai, Greater Mumbai, Chandigarh, Thane, Raipur, Indore, and Bhopal.

What makes a truly liveable city

According to the survey, genuinely liveable cities are not necessarily new or wealthy. Instead, they are those that reduce everyday hardships, encourage citizen participation, and allow people the freedom to express themselves.

Urban development, it stressed, should go beyond physical infrastructure to respect people’s time, choice,s and creativity.

Andhra Pradesh’s fiscal snapshot

On the fiscal front, the Survey flagged concerns about Andhra Pradesh’s financial health, noting that the State has been running a revenue deficit continuously for six years, from 2019 to 2025. However, it also recorded positive trends in inflation.

Inflation in Andhra Pradesh, which stood above the national average in 2022–23, has steadily declined since then. During the current financial year (April–December), the State’s average inflation rate was lower than the national average, indicating easing price pressures.

Business reforms and investment climate

The Survey commended Andhra Pradesh for improving its business environment through reforms such as single-window industrial clearances, online land registration, and faster environmental approvals.

Digital systems like online consent management and e-environment clearances have helped speed up project approvals under the Business Reform Action Plan.

Agriculture, industry, and education highlights

The Survey noted that paddy yields per hectare in Andhra Pradesh remain below the national average, even as foodgrain supply chains are being effectively monitored using GPS systems.

World-class bulk drug parks are being developed in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat, with a central budget allocation of Rs 1,400 crore.

Educational reforms in Andhra Pradesh have contributed to a rise in foreign student enrolments.

Andhra Pradesh ranks among the top states for women-owned enterprises, following West Bengal, Karnataka, and Gujarat.

The State has streamlined land-use conversion policies and completed land resurvey in 6,901 villages by 2025.

Overall, the Economic Survey positions Amaravati as a model greenfield capital with long-term potential, while also acknowledging the fiscal challenges that Andhra Pradesh must address alongside its urban and economic ambitions.