What does it take to develop and actually settle a new capital city?

On May 2nd, PM Narendra Modi launched Amaravati, the proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh. But this wasn’t its first unveiling. Back in 2015, then CM Chandrababu Naidu had launched the same greenfield dream with the PM by his side. Now, after a political hiatus and a resounding mandate, Naidu is back and so is Amaravati. In this episode of The Morning Brief, ET’s host Nidhi Sharma speaks with State IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh and former Smart City mission director Kunal Kumar to explore the challenges of attracting investors, rebuilding trust, and turning a fertile riverfront into a functioning capital city.
From the promise of land pooling to the pitfalls of political disruption, the conversation traces Andhra Pradesh’s reset to “one state, one capital,” drawing comparisons with Cyberabad and probing if this new push can meet its tight timelines.
As India’s urban future accelerates and greenfield cities remain the exception, Amaravati may offer both a blueprint and a cautionary tale. Can Andhra Pradesh transform this dream into a thriving hub — or will Amaravati remain a story of ambition interrupted?

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