Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Opposition Leader Botsa Satyanarayana stated on Saturday that he supports the development of Amaravati as the state capital but opposes the 'extravagance and exorbitant costs' involved, alleging widespread corruption in the project.

On April 2, the Rajya Sabha passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which recognises Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking at a press conference in Visakhapatnam, the Legislative Council member raised concerns over financial management and transparency in the Amaravati capital project. He claimed there has been a lack of clarity regarding construction progress since the current government took office.

“We are not opposed to Amaravati itself, but rather to the extravagance and exorbitant costs associated with it,” he said.

Botsa further accused authorities of failing to disclose project updates properly and neglecting key commitments made during Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation. “After assuming office, no details have been provided regarding the progress of the project; furthermore, the failure to incorporate Special Category Status along with other assurances made in the State Reorganisation Bill remains a matter of concern,” he added.

The senior leader highlighted inflated construction costs, noting a significant disparity between standard rates and those applied in Amaravati. “While the standard construction rate is Rs 4,000 per square foot, in Amaravati it exceeds Rs 14,000 — a disparity that clearly demonstrates the extent to which public funds are being squandered or misappropriated,” Botsa alleged.

His remarks come amid continuing political debate concerning the future and financing of Amaravati, which was planned as a world-class capital city following Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation in 2014. Successive governments have disputed aspects of cost, scale, and implementation priorities.