Amaravati may turn into a ghost city, warns YSRCP leader

YSRCP Anakapalli district president Gudivada Amarnath on Saturday warned that Amaravati risks turning into a “ghost city,” drawing parallels with Putrajaya, which struggled to attract residents for years after its development.

Addressing the media at the party office, the former minister alleged that the NDA-led government’s heavy investment in Amaravati was driven more by real estate interests than public welfare. He said the government’s singular focus on the capital was undermining balanced regional development, leaving other established cities in Andhra Pradesh neglected.

Questioning the project’s long-term viability, Amarnath said it could take “200 years” for the Amaravati vision to fully materialise, effectively leaving citizens waiting indefinitely. He also accused NDA leaders of selectively prioritising issues.

Targeting NDA MPs, he criticised their silence on key commitments made during the State’s bifurcation, including Special Category Status and concerns over the proposed privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He further questioned why MPs had not pressed the Centre to include the KK railway line in the Visakhapatnam Railway Zone.

“The same leaders who found time to deliberate on Amaravati-related notifications are ignoring critical public concerns,” he said.

Separately, Amarnath recalled his participation in a hunger strike on April 14, 2016, demanding a dedicated railway zone for Visakhapatnam, during which the then TDP government filed multiple cases against him.

Referring to recent legal developments, he said the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which heard the matter on April 10, imposed a fine of ₹5,000 and sentenced him to six months of simple imprisonment.

“I respect the judgment. I have secured bail and will file an appeal,” he said.