Now Reading: Ambati Rambabu calls Amaravati a mega loot project
-
01
Ambati Rambabu calls Amaravati a mega loot project
Former minister and YSRCP Guntur district president Ambati Rambabu has accused the Andhra Pradesh government of inflating Amaravati’s infrastructure costs and relying heavily on borrowing and contractor-led spending. He cited Rs 1,519…
The Story in Brief
Former minister and YSRCP Guntur district president Ambati Rambabu has accused the Andhra Pradesh government of inflating Amaravati’s infrastructure costs and relying heavily on borrowing and contractor-led spending. He cited Rs 1,519 crore spent on 21.77 km of the Seed Access Road, and claimed a 3.5-km package cost Rs 532 crore. Rambabu compared the figures with National Highways Authority of India benchmarks of Rs 23 lakh to Rs 24 crore per km.
He also questioned building costs of Rs 18,413 per sq. ft. for the Secretariat and Rs 20,000 to Rs 22,000 per sq. ft. for five administrative towers. He said farmers who surrendered 33,000 acres are still awaiting developed returnable plots. The government has mobilised Rs 57,000 crore and plans to spend another Rs 2 lakh crore, he claimed.
The Indian Opinion
Calling Amaravati a “mega loot project” is a political charge, not proof of wrongdoing. The cost comparisons deserve an independent audit that accounts for land, design, utilities, financing and taxes, rather than relying on one benchmark. The government also needs to publish package-wise contracts and explain delays in returning developed plots to farmers. The hard test is whether audited costs match the claimed estimates and whether farmers receive their plots on schedule.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
