Between 2014 and 2019, newspapers of Andhra Pradesh were flooded with stories of development projects worth thousands of crores.
Photoshopped images showed bridges, metro lines, and institutions — all touted as massive investments.
Buildings worth thousands of crores, projects worth thousands of crores — these were the headlines. But when 2019 arrived, all that remained were those Photoshopped images, with little real progress.
Then came the Jagan government, which swept all those flashy news items to the corner. Their approach was different, and it involved constant announcements of direct transfer of money in the the name of welfare schemes without any significant projection of development.
People didn't like both the approaches and so defeated both the parties in succession.
Now it’s 2024, and Chandrababu's government has returned to power.
Once again, the TDP is in 'rewind and play' mode. Vizag Metro, Vijayawada Metro, an iconic bridge, heavy industries — not just a few but many promises are back, and so are the Photoshopped images.
But there’s doubt about whether any of these projects will actually take shape. Let’s look at the proposed Vizag and Vijayawada Metro projects.
Even if the central government agrees to invest, substantial land acquisition needs to happen first, requiring thousands of crores. Does the state even have that amount? It feels like a daily routine now, with grand plans that remain on paper.
The roads remain unchanged. Repairs haven’t begun. Villages see no visible progress beyond propaganda and news reports. There were promises about new roads by Sankranti, but no movement is seen in that regard.
When asked, they're even saying that there’s no money to lay village roads and that no one is willing to lend due to the Jagan government’s prior actions. Then how can they build bridges and metros when they don't get money at least to lay roads? These questions linger in the heads of common men.
Graphics and presentations showcase impressive progress, but the ground reality is starkly different. Just as 2014-2019 went by with grand announcements and limited results, it seems 2019-2024 is headed the same way.
