MAVIGUN – Jagan Sets Coastal Corridor Plan Against Amaravati Ahead of Polls
MAVIGUN – Andhra Pradesh political debate over the state capital gained fresh momentum on Wednesday after YSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said his party would campaign on the Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur corridor proposal in the next Assembly elections.
Jagan said the upcoming election would effectively become a public choice between the MAVIGUN model and the Amaravati capital project. He maintained that the YSRCP would present the coastal corridor plan as a major part of its election campaign and include it in the party manifesto.
MAVIGUN Proposal to Feature in Election Manifesto
Speaking to reporters, Jagan said the proposed Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur corridor had several natural advantages, including existing connectivity and infrastructure. He argued that the region could be developed as an alternative capital zone without requiring the level of expenditure associated with Amaravati.
“We will see how much support the public gives us,” he said, adding that voters would decide which development model they preferred.
The former Chief Minister did not respond to questions on the YSRCP’s earlier proposal to establish three capitals in the state. His remarks focused instead on the MAVIGUN corridor as the party’s current political position on the capital issue.
Allegations Over Amaravati Construction Costs
Jagan also levelled allegations against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the Telugu Desam Party, claiming that the Amaravati project involved excessive spending and benefited certain real estate interests. The TDP had not immediately responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
He questioned the cost of proposed government buildings in Amaravati, particularly the Secretariat project. According to Jagan, the state government was planning to spend around Rs 20,439 per square foot for a Secretariat complex spread across 52 lakh square feet.
He compared the figure with construction costs cited for Central government office buildings, which he said were around Rs 4,645 per square foot. Jagan further claimed that premium construction in major cities such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru could be completed at approximately Rs 4,500 per square foot.
Road Project Costs Also Questioned
The YSRCP leader also raised concerns over the reported cost of internal roads in Amaravati. He alleged that the roads were being developed at about Rs 53 crore per kilometre, while national highway construction generally cost around Rs 24 crore per kilometre.
Jagan said these differences required greater public scrutiny and transparency. He alleged that the financial burden of the project was being placed on the state while private interests were gaining from land-related decisions around Amaravati.
Claims of Land Acquisition Benefits
Continuing his criticism, Jagan alleged that large parcels of land were being acquired in ways that could favour people close to the ruling leadership. He said local farmers could be affected by such decisions and called for greater accountability in the planning and execution of capital-region projects.
He also alleged that recent political confrontations and actions by the state administration were intended to shift public attention away from questions surrounding Amaravati expenditure. According to Jagan, the government was attempting to prevent scrutiny of what he described as large-scale financial irregularities.
The capital issue is expected to remain a key political subject in Andhra Pradesh as parties prepare for the next Assembly election. While the YSRCP has now indicated that the MAVIGUN corridor will be central to its campaign, the ruling TDP continues to support Amaravati as the state’s capital development project.