For the last few days, the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) and state municipal administration and urban development minster Ponguru Narayana have been making statements that the capital city works are going at a brisk pace.
Narayana told reporters quite a few times that many projects which were finished to the extent of 60-70% will be completed in nine months to one year and the major works like Amaravati Government Complex will be completed within three years.
Pro-Telugu Desam Party media like Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy have been giving a big projection to the rest of the state that the capital city works are going at a rapid pace and the entire region is witnessing massive development.
However, on ground, the claims are far from reality.
A few reporters who came from Delhi to see the progress of works in Amaravati ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on May 2, have found that there is not much development in the area as claimed by the authorities and the minister.
Though the state government has claimed to have spent over Rs 35 crore in clearing of jungle and bushes all over the capital region, the situation on the ground is completely different.
Except in places like the reconstruction of ministers’ bungalows, judges’ colonies and other residential quarters is going on, in most of the places, one can still see a lot of bushes and trees. One doesn’t understand where that money has gone.
There is no sight of heavy machinery or thousands of labourers engaged in the construction works. The huge pipes, cable bundles and electric wires that were left abandoned by the previous Jagan government are still lying in a state of neglect.
What the government has done so far is the improvement of central lighting system on the seed access road and commencement of works on internal roads.
“Maybe, the awarding of contracts has just begun. Hope the works will pick up pace after Modi’s visit,” a local resident said.
