In Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati was presented as a modern capital city, a bright future promised by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. But behind the shiny plans and big promises, there’s a darker story: a clever scheme where development is just an excuse for corruption, debt, and personal profit. As the state struggles with huge financial problems, it’s becoming clear that Naidu and his close allies are benefiting, while ordinary people are left to carry the heavy load of a dream gone wrong.
A promise of no cost turns into huge debt
Naidu told everyone that Amaravati would pay for itself, no extra money would be needed from the state. But in just 11 months, the state’s debt has jumped to Rs. 1,47,655 crore, with Rs. 52,000 crore linked to Amaravati. This includes loans from the World Bank (Rs. 15,000 crore), Germany’s KfW (Rs. 5,000 crore), HUDCO (Rs. 11,000 crore), and other groups (Rs. 21,000 crore). An anonymous source, a farmer from Guntur whose land was taken for the project, said, “This isn’t progress. It’s a trap of debt pretending to be growth.” Meanwhile, Naidu’s friends seem to be doing well, construction contracts keep going to the same few people, making many wonder about secret deals.
Spending big on buildings that won’t last
The waste started with the temporary government complex in Velagapudi. Six buildings, covering 6 lakh square feet, were built at a shocking cost of Rs. 11,000 per square foot, and hundreds of crores were spent. Now, Naidu says they’re not needed anymore and wants to build new ones. “We need permanent buildings,” he claims, ignoring the Rs. 353 crore in loans already spent on the old ones. Anonymous sources tied to legal cases against Naidu say a lot of money from these projects went to his allies as secret payments. An anonymous political expert said, “It’s a cycle: spend a lot, waste it, start again, and take profits along the way.”
A fancy capital while the state suffers
Amaravati is being built bigger than necessary. The new High Court, costing Rs. 924.64 crore, will be larger than India’s Supreme Court. The Assembly, at Rs. 724.69 crore, will outshine Parliament, which costs Rs. 970 crore, even though it only serves 175 members. In Hyderabad, a beautiful Secretariat was built for Rs. 600 crore over 10.5 lakh square feet, yet Naidu’s version costs more. An anonymous schoolteacher from Vijayawada asked, “Are they using gold to build it?” At the same time, Naidu says there’s no money for healthcare, farmers, or village clinics. It seems the people’s needs don’t matter as much as big, showy projects, and the money they bring to his friends.
Contracts only for friends
The way contracts are given out for Amaravati raises big questions. For the High Court and Assembly, only two companies, L&T and NCC, were allowed to bid, suggesting a closed group. For flood control and roads, Rs. 10,700 crore in work went to companies linked to Naidu’s close allies, like BSR Infra and RVR Projects, connected to a relative of a media company boss. The bidding process was changed to keep others out, making sure only Naidu’s friends got the jobs. An anonymous opposition leader said, “This isn’t development; it’s stealing in broad daylight.” Roads costing Rs. 53.88 crore per kilometer and houses for ministers at over Rs. 10,000 per square foot make people suspect the costs are inflated for profit.
Money flowing where it’s not needed
Naidu says there’s no flooding in Amaravati, but he’s spending Rs. 1,404 crore on five lift systems and plans to build six more reservoirs. Many call this a way to move public money into private hands. A luxury housing project called Happy Nest is getting another Rs. 818 crore, with costs at Rs. 4,500 per square foot—much more than the Rs. 3,000 needed for top-quality homes. An anonymous activist asked, “If Rs. 3,000 gets you a great house, where’s the extra money going?” Many believe it’s ending up with Naidu’s allies.
A future of debt and lies
Andhra Pradesh is now deeper in debt than ever before, and Naidu’s big promises are falling apart. Temporary buildings worth Rs. 353 crore sit unused, new ones are being built for Rs. 1,650 crore, and all the money comes from loans the public will have to pay back. Corruption claims, from the Velagapudi project to legal cases, follow Naidu everywhere. An anonymous source, a farmer, said, “Naidu promised us a dream, but all I see is my children’s future being sold for his gain.” With the state’s money in a mess and basic services ignored, Amaravati isn’t a proud capital, it’s a symbol of waste and a sign of a leader accused of caring more about himself than the people.
As Andhra Pradesh struggles with growing debt, people are left wondering: Will Amaravati ever be what it was promised or just a shiny cover for corruption? For now, Naidu’s friends are getting richer, contracts go to his loyal supporters, and the public pays the price in money and trust.
