Naidu back to his graphics' fantasy on Amaravati!

When Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2014 to 2019, he proposed developing Amaravati as a world-class capital city.

Naidu frequently showcased graphic renderings to illustrate his grand vision for Amaravati, painting a dreamlike picture of high-rise buildings set amidst lush green landscapes and water bodies. These visuals left the public captivated, creating a fantasy-like expectation around the capital project.

At one point, Naidu even brought in ace Tollywood director S S Rajamouli to recreate the visuals of Mahishmatipuram from the Baahubali films — suggesting he would build a similar architectural marvel in Amaravati.

However, the ground reality was far from the dream. Apart from a few under-construction residential quarters, a temporary High Court, and a makeshift Secretariat, Amaravati remained largely barren. After the YSR Congress Party, led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, came to power, the project was put on hold. Readmore!

Now, with Naidu back in power following the latest Assembly elections, construction work in Amaravati has resumed. Many expected that this time, Naidu would focus on real progress without the distractions of flashy visuals and unrealistic promises.

But if Naidu avoids showmanship, he wouldn’t be Naidu. Once again, he seems to be relying on graphics and AI-generated images to impress the public.

Though construction has formally been handed over to contractors and is underway, Naidu is reportedly planning to spend crores on high-end 3D visuals to showcase development.

This comes at a time when the state is grappling with a financial crunch and concerns about mounting debt. Yet, the administration is pushing forward with plans to unveil high-tech visuals during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit.

Tenders have been invited for the creation of a 3D model of the Amaravati Government Complex (AGC), which will be presented during the PM’s visit.

Additionally, a Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to set up a tech-driven exhibition at the Amaravati Experience Centre to present the capital’s concept in an immersive format. The government has not revealed the cost of this initiative.

Once again, it appears Naidu is prioritizing publicity over substance — relying on visuals to shape perception while taking the people for granted.