Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resources Development, Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Sunday, 14 June declared that construction activity in the state capital Amaravati is progressing at full pace, pushing back against what he described as false propaganda about stalled projects. Lokesh shared a video on X showcasing the rapid pace of ongoing infrastructure work across multiple sites in the capital region.

What Lokesh Said

In his post on X, Lokesh wrote: 'Amaravati is on full throttle — and there is no hitting pause.' The video he shared features visuals of active construction on iconic towers, the Assembly, the High Court, roads, reservoirs, MLA MLC Towers, AIS Towers, secretaries' bungalows, GO Towers, NGO Towers, Group D Towers, Happy Nest housing units, and ministers' bungalows. The video's narration asserts that no work has been halted due to rains and declares, 'Amaravati is unstoppable.'

YSRCP Allegations and Government's Rebuttal

The statements come a day after Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana on Saturday accused the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of spreading misinformation about Amaravati's construction projects, arguing that such campaigns would further erode the party's political standing. Narayana specifically rejected YSRCP claims that government buildings in Amaravati involved excessive expenditure, calling the allegations misleading.

Construction Costs Compared

To counter the expenditure narrative, Narayana cited cost benchmarks from a recently approved Union Cabinet project for Central government offices in Amaravati. According to the minister, the Central government's own residential complex is being built at ₹3,945 per square foot, while Amaravati's HappyNest housing project is being constructed at the comparatively lower rate of ₹3,393 per square foot. Residential quarters for gazetted officers are estimated at ₹3,684 per square foot. Narayana noted that several planned structures are iconic in design, which naturally entails higher construction costs.

Flood Management Infrastructure in Focus

Narayana also inspected ongoing canal and drainage development projects in Amaravati aimed at strengthening flood management ahead of the monsoon season. He reviewed bridge construction progress across Kondaveeti Vagu and Palavagu, stating that these projects are advancing rapidly and will be critical to ensuring smooth drainage during heavy rains. This comes amid broader concerns about the capital region's preparedness for seasonal flooding, a recurring challenge given Amaravati's location along the Krishna river basin.

Political Context

The renewed push to showcase Amaravati's construction momentum reflects the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led government's effort to distinguish its tenure from the previous YSRCP administration, which had controversially shifted the capital development focus away from Amaravati. The current government has made the capital's development a flagship commitment, and any perception of delay — real or alleged — carries significant political weight. All eyes will now be on whether the pace of work holds through the monsoon months.