Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made a strong case for Amaravati as the State’s next growth engine, saying the creation of core infrastructure in the greenfield capital will trigger an investment cycle, generate employment and significantly expand the government’s revenue base.

With the capital project estimated to entail an outlay of over ₹80,000 crore across phases, Naidu projected confidence in executing one of the country’s most ambitious urban infrastructure programmes. “Not every leader gets an opportunity to build a new capital. I have been fortunate to get that chance twice,” he said.

Speaking to select media after inaugurating India’s first open-access quantum reference facilities in Amaravati, on Tuesday, Naidu said the development of the core capital region would, over time, attract residents, institutions, businesses and investors.

“Once core infrastructure is created, all sections of society will automatically start moving in over a period of time. Ecosystems drive growth, and that is precisely what we are building in Amaravati,” he said.

Drawing parallels with Hyderabad’s technology-led expansion, Naidu recalled the early days of Cyberabad. “When I started building Cyberabad, it was largely barren land. Today, Hyderabad accounts for over 22 per cent of the country’s Global Capability Centres. That transformation was driven by ecosystem creation,” he added.

He, however, underlined that Amaravati’s development curve would be distinct.“Cyberabad was a brownfield expansion, whereas Amaravati is a greenfield capital project. That difference has to be factored into the timeline,” he said.

GROWTH ENGINE

Naidu said Amaravati would emerge not merely as an administrative capital but as a long-term economic asset for the State. “Economic activity, businesses and jobs will create wealth for the people. The government will also benefit through higher GST collections and other tax revenues,” he added.

The remarks come amid continuing political debate over the future of Amaravati and the scale of public spending being lined up for the capital region.

Responding to criticism that the government was prioritising Amaravati at the expense of other regions, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was pursuing a balanced development strategy. “The Google data centre coming up in Visakhapatnam will generate substantial employment there,” he added.

The AM/NS integrated steel plant in Anakapalli and fresh investments in the Tirupati–Naidupeta energy corridor as evidence of broader regional industrial development. “Our focus on green energy is equally strong. Reducing dependence on petrol and diesel is critical, particularly in the current geopolitical context,” he said.

ATTRACTING TALENT

Naidu also outlined his vision of Andhra Pradesh emerging as a technology and innovation hub, with a focus on quantum computing, artificial intelligence and data ecosystems. “The country’s first open-access quantum test-bed facilities are proof of concept. We are building an integrated technology ecosystem around quantum, data and AI,” he said.

He added that the State was already witnessing early signs of reverse brain drain, with professionals from the US and Europe returning to launch startups and invest in Andhra Pradesh. “Talent is beginning to come back because opportunities are being created here,” he said.

Published on April 15, 2026