Amaravati to Host Olympic-Grade Sports City on 2,500 Acres

The Andhra Pradesh government is not only borrowing heavily for the construction of its capital, Amaravati, but is also taking loans even for day-to-day administration. No one knows when these debts will be repaid. Yet, the government is claiming that it will clear these loans by selling off Amaravati lands. Let’s assume for a moment that this is true. But after hearing what the state’s Municipal Administration Minister Narayana has said, it's hard not to be alarmed. Despite ongoing criticisms, the government has now officially decided to acquire another 40,000 to 45,000 acres of land for the expansion of Amaravati. This decision was taken during a CRDA (Capital Region Development Authority) meeting chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday. However, a decision still needs to be made on whether this land will be acquired through pooling or land acquisition methods, according to the minister.

While briefing the media on the CRDA meeting decisions, Minister Narayana revealed another sensational announcement. He stated that although 120 acres were originally allocated for a Sports City in the Amaravati Master Plan, Chief Minister Naidu has now directed the development of international-standard sports infrastructure that could support hosting the Olympics. As a result, the plan is to now develop such facilities across 2,500 acres. This announcement has raised serious concerns about the current situation in the state and the government’s priorities. Estimates suggest that to develop the infrastructure and facilities required to host the Olympics, at least ₹70,000 crore (700 billion rupees) would be needed—likely even more. The figure is not expected to come down under any circumstances. Even if the government were to provide just the land for free and claim that the private sector will handle the rest, the reality is that such a massive investment would take decades to yield returns. This model doesn’t seem practical or viable.

Many within the ruling party itself are saying this is nothing more than an attempt by Chandrababu Naidu to create hype and mislead the public. Some officials are privately stating that this isn’t a genuine plan but just another promise in the air.Even if the central government considers bidding for the 2036 Olympics and agrees to bear half of the costs, integrating such infrastructure in Amaravati won’t be an easy task, say experts. As always, the government is making big land allocations: 5,000 acres for the Greenfield International Airport, and 2,500 acres for Smart Industries, according to Minister Narayana. But the big question remains: Can farmers afford to give up their valuable land and wait indefinitely for these long-term projects to materialize? And who can guarantee that Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP will remain in power to see it through? Now, all eyes are on how many farmers will come forward in Phase 2 of land pooling, despite these risks. Minister Narayana’s optimistic calculations paint a rosy picture, but ground-level realities tell a different story—even some TDP MLAs are reportedly admitting this in private.