As Amravati plan begins to take shape, a little inspiration from Netherlands

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) P Narayana said that the World Bank had agreed to release Rs 15,000 crore for Amaravati but had asked the state government to execute its flood prevention plans at the earliest.

Besides this, the CM also directed authorities to take up inner and outer ring road projects despite having bypass roads around the capital. (Express Archives)

According to him, the Vijayawada flood in September had raised concerns of a similar situation in the capital region, and the state government wanted to resolve the issue on priority.

“As part of this exercise, reservoirs are being constructed in various parts including the 217 km stretch of the capital city of Amaravati,” the minister said. “The gravity canal reservoirs are being built at Kondaveeti and Palavagu in the capital region, while storage reservoirs are being constructed at Neerukonda, Krishnayapalem, Sakhamuru, and Vundavalli.”

Besides this, the CM also directed authorities to take up inner and outer ring road projects despite having bypass roads around the capital.

According to officials, the state government has decided to close old tenders for Amaravati and call for new ones.

“Tenders had been called between 2014 and 2019 for works worth Rs 41,000 crore in Amaravati of which works amounting to Rs 35,000 crore have been launched. Work had been taken up for the construction of the high court, legislative complex along with several roads, residential complexes for the HC judges, ministers, and All India Service officers,” he said.

But the previous government under Jagan Mohan Reddy had “completely neglected” the Amaravati project by announcing its three-capital plan, he said. “Even bills worth several crores for various agencies which have taken up the works have been kept pending,” he claimed.

Narayana said that to resolve such issues, the Naidu government had set up a technical committee comprising chief engineers on July 24. The committee submitted its 23-point report on October 29.