Amaravati Government Complex construction process still stuck at designs stage

Amaravati: The construction of Amaravati Government Complex (AGC) is likely to be further delayed as the designs are yet to be finalised for some structures and retenders have to be invited for infrastructure works.

According to sources, the state government has permitted APCRDA (Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority) to extend the timelines for final designs that have to be submitted by Foster+ Partners. 

The detailed designs of master plan for Amaravati Government Complex have been in progress yet. The timeline for the task was extended from April 28 to July 25.

A team of British architecture firm Foster +Partners visited Vijayawada and participated in a technical workshop on AGC master plan on April 9 to discuss critical issues. 

The Foster +Partners, CRDA and CH2M have been working on the task for several months. The CRDA extended the timeline again and has reported to the government that 50 per cent of detailed master plan will be delivered by July 25.

However, the APCRDA has decided to go to call retenders for AGC infrastructure as no bids were received even though the due date ended on June 18. 

The CRDA has decided to invite retenders for the same this month. The design development has also been in progress for Legislative Assembly.  The Foster +Partners has to submit schedule to deliver the design for the approved spike form of the Assembly building and some other structure.

According to sources, the F+P is preparing to submit 50 per cent architectural drawings to the CRDA.An senior officer said that the F+P has submitted schematic design for High Court and the designs are under review of CRDA.

He also said efforts were being made to start works in August. On other hand, the APCRDA has invited bids for five towers comprising Chief Minster’s Office, Secretariat and Heads of Departments office buildings at an estimated cost of Rs 2,200 crore in April.

But, the CRDA received schematic designs for 1 and 2 towers and the landscape designs have not been submitted yet for 3,4 & 5 towers. The process of soil investigation has not been completed yet for the Secretariat and HoD towers and the structural designs for foundations is expected to be finalised in September.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently expressed his dissatisfaction at the pace of process and exhorted that the APCRDA should pass the designs preparation stage and get ready for construction of Amaravati Government Complex. 

The Chief Minister is conducting review meeting with APCRDA every Wednesday and he also conducts virtual inspections of capital city works. As the early elections are being expected, the government wants the capital city construction to reach certain stage by the beginning of 2019.