Minister Narayana: Amaravati capital will be completed in 2.5 years

Amaravati: Minister Ponguru Narayana has come down heavily on the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government for turning a blind eye to the construction of Amaravati capital city in the name of three capitals of the state. He assumed charge as the minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) at the State Secretariat, Velagapudi on Sunday.

Speaking to the media persons, Narayana said that unplanned decisions of the YSRCP government there was no focus on the state capital in the last five years. “Chandrababu Naidu has aimed to build a world-class capital and make Amaravati one of the top five capitals across the globe. Earlier, during the TDP regime, works related to the construction of roads, basic amenities and buildings began. Amaravati will be constructed with the same master plan approved by the TDP government,” Narayana said.

The MA&UD minister said that all development work initiated in the capital has involved the Singapore government, especially in designing the city in such a way that all districts will benefit financially. He said that Singapore, China, Japan, Russia, Malaysia and other countries were visited to craft the best designs for Amaravati.

‘Construction of Amaravati in two-and-a-half years’

Giving a detailed outline of the construction works to be taken up in Amaravati, Narayana said that the first phase of construction in the capital city would be completed in the next two-and-a-half years.

“Keeping in mind previous experience, the capital city construction will be expedited at a brisk pace, especially in the seed capital area. Already discussions in this regard are being conducted with the construction companies. The complications in the courts in Amaravati would be removed soon and justice would be done to all the farmers. After reviewing the entire construction structures, works will resume in Amravati at the earliest,” the MA&UD minister said.

Narayana said tenders worth Rs 48,000 crore were called in the past to ensure that all amenities are made available in the majority of the area in the capital, and that bills of Rs 9,000 crore were already paid.

He said these works included construction of the residential quarters of bureaucrats, legislators and others, which were completed up to 90 per cent.

After the land pooling notification was issued on January 1, 2015 for Amaravati as capital city, farmers handed over 34,000 acres of land to the government by February 28, 2015, Narayana claimed.

YSRCP neglected Amaravati development

However, the capital city development project was neglected by the previous YSRCP government, he said.

As part of the land acquisition required for the construction of the capital, the notification for land pooling was given on January 1, 2015, then on February 28, 2015, the farmers handed over 34,000 acres to the government without any litigation, he said.

The minister said he will review the plans with officials from today, and in the next 15 days some clarity would emerge on how to prioritise the capital city works.

He said that the capital development master plan devised in the past would be implemented, especially in three phases.

The first phase of city building development works would cost Rs 48,000 crore, he said, and added that the second phase would focus on constructing metro rail infrastructure and setting up the mass public transport system.

‘Panel to investigate allegations against YSRCP government’

Reacting to the allegations of furniture theft by the previous YSRCP government, Narayana said that a detailed inquiry would be launched on the matter and alleged that there were many occasions where the YSRCP leaders committed thefts by digging roads. A committee would be formed on all these allegations and stern action would be taken on those after conducting a thorough investigation, he added.