VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) to develop an action plan to establish Amaravati as a hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI).
During a review meeting with the MAUD Minister and CRDA officials on Thursday, Naidu emphasized the need to design a futuristic logo for Amaravati featuring a capital “A” and a small “i” (Ai). He stressed that every aspect of the city should showcase modern technological accessibility.
Criticizing the previous administration led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu claimed that Amaravati had been neglected and deteriorated with ulterior motives. He urged that construction work on the capital city be expedited.
Naidu reviewed the progress of various government office buildings, noting a lack of progress under the previous government. He specifically mentioned the incomplete G+7 building for the CRDA office, instructing officials to finish it within 90 days while adhering to high-quality standards and using the latest technology.
He also addressed the delay of the Happy Nest project, which was designed for residents in the capital area. Naidu pointed out that plots sold out quickly during the TDP regime but were neglected by the previous government, leading to buyer disinterest. He ordered the immediate revival of the project.
The Chief Minister highlighted that 3,558 acres still need to be acquired for the capital area, but farmers are voluntarily offering their land. He instructed officials to resolve any issues related to land allocation and advised using drones to oversee forest clearance work, of which 60% has been completed.
Naidu further directed the swift advancement of metro rail projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. AP Metro Rail Project Managing Director Ramakrishna Reddy reported that the Visakhapatnam Metro Rail will be completed in two phases: the first phase, spanning 46 km with an investment of Rs 11,400 crore, and the second phase, covering 30 km with Rs 5,734 crore. Naidu set a four-year timeline for the first phase and urged acceleration of the Vijayawada metro rail project, which will span 38 km with an investment of Rs 11,000 crore.
Narayana informed the media that the G+7 building will house the CRDA, ADC, and MAUDA offices. The cost of the Happy Nest project has increased from Rs 714 crore to Rs 930 crore, but the government has decided to cover the additional cost. The project will include 12 towers with 1,200 units across 14.46 acres.
He also noted that the previous government had failed to pay the annuity of Rs 175 crore for the last fiscal year and Rs 225 crore for the current year. The Chief Minister has instructed that the pending annuity be cleared by September 15 and that this year's annuity be paid as soon as possible.
Once stability reports from expert teams at IIT Madras and IIT Hyderabad are reviewed, tenders will be invited, and construction of the capital city will commence on January 1. The master plan aims to transform Amaravati, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Mangalagiri into a mega city over the next three decades.
Revival of Happy Nest Project
The Chief Minister has directed CRDA officials to initiate steps to revive the Happy Nest project, which has seen its estimated cost rise from Rs 714 crore to Rs 930 crore.