Naidu opens Seed Access Road second phase, two steel bridges at Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday (August 13, 2026) inaugurated the second phase of the Seed Access Road (E-3), along with two steel bridges, at Undavalli, describing the development as the first major step towards building the capital city.

Mr. Naidu unveiled the plaque at Undavalli to mark the inauguration and addressed a public meeting attended by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, APCRDA Commissioner V. Vijay Rama Raju, MLAs Tenali Sravan Kumar and Kolikapudi Srinivas, MP Bhashyam Ramakrishna, farmers and residents.

The Seed Access Road has been completed from Rayapudi through Venkatapalem, Penumaka and Undavalli. The project, developed at an estimated cost of ₹1,519 crore, is planned for expansion in its third phase to connect the capital region with National Highway 16 near Manipal. The bridges will improve connectivity between Vijayawada, Mangalagiri and Amaravati.

The two steel bridges are a 110-metre structure across the Buckingham Canal and a 280-metre bridge across the Kondaveeti Vagu and the Guntur Channel. Mr. Naidu walked some distance down the bridges, inspecting the construction.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Naidu recalled that farmers had contributed about 34,000 acres for the capital, and paid tribute to those who gave their lands. He said the capital’s development had been disrupted during the previous government, forcing the present government to close contracts, retender works and restart construction.

Mr. Naidu said Singapore had supported the Amaravati master plan and Norman Foster’s London-based firm had been engaged for the iconic government buildings. He rejected criticism that Amaravati was merely a “graphics” project, saying the vision was becoming reality.

He said Amaravati would be developed as a pollution-free deep-tech capital, with AI and quantum-computing hubs, with the aim of placing it among India’s top five cities. He said the capital region would cover Amaravati, Mangalagiri, Tadepalli, Guntur and Vijayawada, and that the Centre had sanctioned a 190-km outer ring road and a 96-km inner ring road.

Amaravati to get direct connectivity with Vijayawada, Mangalagiri

The project also envisages underground utility corridors for electricity, gas, telephone and water services across Amaravati. Mr. Naidu said Amaravati would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2028 as a capital admired by the country. Calling the Seed Access Road and the steel bridges the first step, he urged people to contribute ideas and work towards making Andhra Pradesh a “Swarna Andhra” by 2047.