VIJAYAWADA: Marking a major milestone in establishing high-speed and seamless connectivity to the State Capital Amaravati, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu formally inaugurated Phase-2 of the E-3 Seed Access Road alongside two newly constructed steel bridges at Undavalli on Thursday.
Describing the project as the “Royal Road” and primary gateway to the capital region, the Chief Minister stated that the operationalisation of this 9-lane arterial corridor represents the first concrete step toward building a world-class urban centre designed to anchor the economic future of the State.
Accompanied by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana and Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, Naidu unveiled the inauguration plaque at Undavalli before walking across the new steel bridges to inspect the infrastructure firsthand and address a large public gathering.
Constructed by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,519 crore, the 21.77-km E-3 Seed Access Corridor spans from Dondapadu to NH-16 near Manipal Hospital in Tadepalli, passing through Rayapudi, Venkatapalem, Penumaka and Undavalli.
Built as a 60-metre-wide grid-based transit backbone modelled on the structured access roads of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, the corridor directly connects all N-series roads (N1 to N17) in the capital layout.
While the 14.35-km Phase-1 stretch was completed previously, the newly opened 3.92-km Phase-2 incorporates two major steel engineering structures—a 110-metre bridge over the Buckingham Canal and a 280-metre bridge spanning Kondaveeti Vagu and the Guntur Channel—built at a combined cost of Rs 82 crore.
Naidu envisions Amaravati as AI, ‘Quantum’ hub
Featuring a distinctive ‘A’-shaped welcome pylon at the entrance, these bridges establish direct access from Vijayawada and Mangalagiri into Amaravati while significantly easing traffic pressure on the Karakatta road. The final 3.50-km Phase-3 elevated corridor will connect the network directly to the national highway at Tadepalli.
Addressing the public, the Chief Minister declared that Amaravati is being crafted around five core principles. They include zero overhead electric poles, abundant blue water bodies, extensive green urban cover, 100 per cent green energy integration, and a dedicated Quantum and Deep-Tech Ecosystem.
He envisioned the capital evolving into a global city and a premier hub for Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing. Responding to past critics who dismissed the capital blueprints as mere “graphics,” Naidu asserted that those who mocked the designs should now bow their heads as the plans turn into reality.
He expressed deep gratitude to the Central Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning a 190-km Outer Ring Road and a 96-km Inner Ring Road, confirming that the fully developed capital will be formally dedicated to the nation by Modi in 2028.
Saluting the local farmers who voluntarily pooled their lands for the capital under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS), Naidu remarked that their sacrifices serve as an enduring inspiration for the nation. He recalled how sacred soil and water brought from rivers across India were mixed in Amaravati as a symbol of national blessings, alongside the construction of Sri Venkateswara temple in the capital region.
Speaking at the farmers’ public meeting, the Municipal Administration Minister detailed the technical alignment of the Seed Access Road to the Chief Minister, and highlighted the vision behind developing Amaravati as an economic powerhouse comparable to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Narayana recalled that when Andhra Pradesh was left without a capital, Amaravati was chosen on the banks of the Krishna river for its central location and excellent road and rail connectivity linking Srikakulam to Anantapur.
He emphasised that following the January 2015 Land Pooling notification, farmers voluntarily handed over 34,000 acres in just 58 days without a single litigation. Criticising the previous YSRCP regime for stalling construction under the guise of three capitals and leaving contracts unresolved, Narayana explained that the NDA government technically closed those agreements, re-tendered the works, and validated structural quality through IIT Madras and IIT Hyderabad.
He added that the Seed Access Corridor is designed with integrated underground networks for electricity, gas, water, and telecom, expressing his gratitude to the Chief Minister for the opportunity to serve in building the State capital.
Naidu inspected the newly completed official residential complex for MLAs and MLCs at Rayapudi. The CRDA handed over the complex—comprising 12 multi-storey towers with 288 flats—to the General Administration Department (GAD) through the Chief Minister.