In a major push to establish Amaravati as a premier technology hub, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) on Monday granted approval for the construction of a dedicated, state-of-the-art facility for the ambitious Quantum Valley project. The decision was made during the CRDA governing council meeting chaired by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Quantum Valley Takes Concrete Shape
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana announced that the authority has cleared the construction of a specialised building to house advanced quantum computing equipment. The proposed structure will have a built-up area of approximately 43,000 square feet and is estimated to cost ₹104 crore. The facility will be erected on a two-acre site within the capital region.
"Tenders have already been invited, and the L1 bidder has been finalised. The building will be constructed as per designs prepared by technical experts to meet the stringent global standards required for cutting-edge quantum research and operations," Minister Narayana stated. To further bolster the Quantum Valley ecosystem, Chief Minister Naidu has directed officials to immediately initiate the construction of two additional buildings to support future expansion.
Multi-Sectoral Approvals for Amaravati's Growth
The CRDA meeting resulted in several other crucial decisions aimed at accelerating the capital's development. In a significant move for healthcare and education, the authority resolved to lease land to the Union Ministry of Ayush for establishing a hospital and a university. The land will be leased for a period of 60 years at a nominal rate of Re 1 per acre. The proposed Ayush campus is expected to attract an investment of around ₹750 crore.
To address critical infrastructure needs, the council approved the release of ₹109.52 crore for providing internal infrastructure to bungalows allotted to IAS officers in the capital. Furthermore, to accelerate development in specific areas, infrastructure works worth ₹1,351 crore in Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) zone-8 were cleared.
Boosting Flood Resilience and Drainage
Recognising the importance of flood mitigation, the CRDA approved key projects to enhance Amaravati's resilience. Minister Narayana mentioned that projects involving Kondaveeti Vagu and Palavagu, including a gravity canal and six reservoirs, have been proposed. Additionally, the authority cleared the construction of a new pumping station to divert 4,000 cusecs of water through the Guntur channel.
In a major upgrade to the city's drainage capacity, the council approved the establishment of an additional pumping station with a capacity of 8,500 cusecs at an estimated cost of ₹443 crore. To resolve long-pending land issues, the CRDA also approved the formation of a district-level committee of officials to address matters related to Jareebu and non-Jareebu lands.
The meeting, attended by Chief Secretary K Vijayanand, Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, Amaravati Development Corporation Chairperson Lakshmi Parthasarathy Bhaskar, CRDA Commissioner Kannababu, and other senior officials, is expected to significantly fast-track Amaravati's transformation into a technology-driven and resilient capital city.
