The Andhra Pradesh government is taking steps to reclaim land allocated to Ramanaidu Studios in Visakhapatnam, reversing a decision made under the previous administration.
The 35-acre hilltop property, originally granted during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure at a nominal price of ₹5.2 lakh per acre, has remained largely underutilized, with only a few buildings constructed on the site.
During Jagan Mohan Reddy’s term, a proposal was made to convert 15 acres of vacant land into commercial property, following a model previously implemented in Hyderabad.
Studio owner Suresh Babu paid a conversion fee, anticipating a profitable arrangement. However, the proposal faced political backlash — primarily from the Telugu Desam Party — which ultimately stalled the process.
Now, the Alliance government is preparing to issue a notice questioning the necessity of a studio that continues to remain mostly idle.
That said, further expansion of the studio also appears unlikely. Film studios in Visakhapatnam are not particularly profitable, which is why few are willing to make serious investments in them.
Although Suresh Babu’s industry and political connections may help him retain the land, options for selling or repurposing it are slim.
With legal complexities and ongoing political opposition, any major development on the site seems unlikely, leaving the land in a state of indefinite uncertainty.
