Ambati Rambabu, the former minister and Guntur district president of the YSR Congress Party, has alleged that the Amaravati capital is being misrepresented as a significant development initiative while, in reality, it has become a project marked by financial irregularities. Speaking at his camp office in Guntur on August 14, he pointed to what he termed inflated estimates and excessive borrowings that have characterised the development of the city.

During the media briefing, Rambabu challenged the coalition government to address the financial figures he presented. He specifically focused on the Seed Access Road project, stressing that over Rs.1,519 crore was allocated for constructing just 21.77 km. He highlighted that while Phase-I, which covers 14.21 km, was approved in 2017 for Rs.285 crore, almost Rs.185 crore had already been spent by 2019. He raised concerns about the subsequent increase in costs under a revival plan, with the remaining work reportedly being escalated to Rs.465 crore.

Rambabu furthermore criticised the cost structure of road construction in Amaravati. He pointed out that typical costs for National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects hover around Rs.23-24 crore per km, dramatically lower than the expenses reported for Amaravati’s infrastructure projects, with figures reaching Rs.532 crore for a 3.5-km Seed Access Road. He also quantified the costs of specific flyover constructions, stating that the Seed Access Road flyover cost nearly Rs.180 crore per km, raising eyebrows over inflated expenditures.

Concerns Over Farmer Compensation and Quality of Works

Rambabu also expressed concerns for farmers who had surrendered about 33,000 acres of land, outlining their continued struggles for properly developed returnable plots despite contractors profiting from substantial project contracts. He examined the financial allocation for government buildings, questioning why costs appeared disproportionately high—Rs.18,413 per sq.ft for the Secretariat and between Rs.20,000 to Rs.22,000 per sq.ft for five towers, with significant expenditures on glass and facade works alone totalling around Rs.2,455 crore.

He raised a rhetorical question regarding the nature of the materials being used in Amaravati’s road construction, asking whether they were being built with ordinary materials or with extravagant ones, such as platinum and gold instead of gravel.

Additionally, Rambabu reported that the government had mobilised approximately Rs.57,000 crore and was planning to allocate another Rs.2 lakh crore for ongoing and future projects. He remarked that pro-TDP media houses continue to portray Amaravati in a positive light without illuminating the true nature of the expenditure involved.

Political Reactions and Calls for Debate

In his statements, Rambabu voiced disappointment over the absence of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan during the inauguration of the Seed Access Road. He insinuated that concerns regarding corruption may have led to this absence, raising additional questions about accountability within the government.

Finally, he challenged the ruling government to grant YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Leader of the Opposition, the opportunity to debate these pressing issues within the Assembly. He concluded by asserting that, following seven years of governance under Chandrababu Naidu, Amaravati still resembles a landscape filled with temporary structures and incomplete works. He described it as a vision seemingly aimed at benefiting the contractors and certain families rather than fulfilling the fiscal responsibilities owed to the public.

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