Amaravati, November 29, 2025: Under a crisp November sky, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stood amid the skeletal frames of a nascent city, laying foundation stones for a cluster of financial titans and proclaiming Amaravati's revival "unstoppable."
The event, attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a cadre of banking chiefs, marked a turning point for the 33,000-acre greenfield project, born from 29,000 farmers' sacrifices in 2015 but stalled by political whims for nearly a decade.
"The sacrifices of 29,000 farmers who pooled 34,000 acres of land must never be forgotten," Naidu said, his voice steady with resolve. "If the Centre supports us for five years, Andhra Pradesh will emerge as the backbone of India's growth."
The summit's ripple effects were evident in Naidu's broader canvas: Rs 56,000 crore in projects launched, including seven national highways slicing through the region and a new railway line to knit it together.
Yet, the star was the Cosmos Planetarium, sealed via an MoU with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, promising a dome of stars to ignite young minds in a city aspiring to be more than concrete and commerce. "Amaravati isn't just buildings; it's a promise of inclusive progress," Sitharaman noted, her words a bridge between Delhi's coffers and the state's dreams.
For the farmers who surrendered their fields, the day felt like vindication. Kolanukonda Shiva Prasad Reddy, a pooling leader, stood among them, his eyes on the horizon where earthmovers hummed.
"We trusted the vision; now it's our turn to see it rise," he said, voicing a sentiment shared by thousands who awaited annuities and plots. Naidu's government has pledged resolutions within six months, a timeline that could heal old wounds or widen them if unmet.
