Naidu pitches Amaravati as hub for tourism, sports and investment

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said Amaravati would be developed as a capital that reflects the richness of Telugu culture while emerging as a hub for tourism, sports and investment-driven projects.

Addressing the 59th meeting of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) at the Secretariat, Mr. Naidu directed officials to focus on self-financed projects, investor engagement and tourism infrastructure. The APCRDA approved several proposals, including land allocations and major infrastructure works.

Among the key decisions taken at the meeting were the allocation of 80 cents of land for a regional office of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), three acres to the Thullur Educational Society as compensation and five acres to the Andhra Pradesh State Institute of Rural Development. The authority also granted administrative approval of ₹2,316 crore for mechanical, electrical and plumbing works related to the construction of the A.P. Secretariat and Heads of Department towers, and approved ₹119 crore for the construction of the Telugu Cultural Centre in Amaravati.

Mr. Naidu also proposed the establishment of a large convention centre in the capital to host major government events and suggested that an appropriate name be chosen for the proposed Telugu Cultural Centre.

Referring to a major tourism project proposed at Neerukonda in the capital region across 167 acres, Mr. Naidu said it would feature a waterfront, cultural centre, hotels, amusement parks and event spaces. He said the project should be designed as an attractive destination that reflects Telugu heritage while drawing tourists.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of sports as a future economic driver, pointing out that organisations such as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) had evolved into powerful financial ecosystems. He said the Sports City planned in Amaravati had been conceptualised keeping this commercial potential in mind.

Stressing the need to attract private investment, Mr. Naidu said several prominent companies had shown interest in investing in Amaravati. He asked officials to maintain continuous dialogue with potential investors while simultaneously accelerating capital development works. Referring to earlier missed opportunities during the development of Hyderabad’s Cyber City, he said companies such as DLF Limited were now keen not to miss the opportunity to invest in Amaravati.