The YSR Congress Party, which has been targeting the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh over the Amaravati capital city project, has now come out with fresh allegations of insider trading and political favouritism surrounding the expansion of Gannavaram International Airport.
According to YSRCP sources, details of land transactions allegedly linked to influential persons close to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu have surfaced once again.
They alleged that the airport land pooling scheme introduced in 2015 became a major opportunity for politically connected businessmen to acquire valuable Amaravati plots through advance land purchases in villages surrounding the airport.
Sources said the government decided in 2015 to expand Gannavaram International Airport with support from the Centre at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 4,000 crore.
For the expansion, around 687 acres were required from villages such as Kesarapalli, Buddavaram, Chinna Avutapalli, Allapuram and Ajjampudi in Gannavaram mandal.
Under the airport land pooling scheme, the government offered attractive compensation.
Landowners surrendering one acre were promised 1,000 square yards of residential land, 450 square yards of commercial land and annual annuity payments starting from Rs 50,000 per acre, with yearly increases for 10 years.
The YSRCP alleged that these benefits were significantly higher than what was offered under the Amaravati capital land pooling scheme, especially for dry lands.
“This information was selectively leaked to influential persons close to the ruling establishment even before official notifications were issued,” the party alleged.
According to local farmers, several politically connected individuals entered into agreements with landowners and purchased lands at low prices before the airport expansion notifications were officially announced.
“After the government issued the land pooling notification, these lands were formally registered and handed over to the government under the pooling scheme. In return, they allegedly received highly valuable residential and commercial plots in key Amaravati locations,” the YSRCP said.
For instance, Balusu Srinivasa Rao, considered close to Chandrababu Naidu and reportedly involved in several capital region contracts, allegedly acquired multiple parcels of land measuring 6.69 acres in Kesarapalli and Buddavaram villages before surrendering them for airport expansion.
“In return, he secured premium residential and commercial plots in Amaravati, including a major commercial plot opposite Amrita University,” YSRCP sources alleged.
Similarly, Bezawada Ramesh, another person identified by activists as close to the ruling establishment, along with his father Bezawada Samba, allegedly purchased 28 acres of land in Kesarapalli, Allapuram, Chinna Avutapalli and Ajjampudi villages.
The YSRCP alleged that these lands were purchased shortly before the pooling process and later surrendered under the airport scheme for substantial gains in Amaravati.
Aluru Bujjibabu and his brother Aluru Srinivasa Rao are also accused of purchasing 16.86 acres of land in Kesarapalli, Ajjampudi, Chinna Avutapalli and Buddavaram villages before the pooling process.
Film producer Ashwini Dutt and his family are among the biggest beneficiaries cited by farmer groups.
According to records, Ashwini Dutt and his wife Vinaya Kumari allegedly surrendered around 39.15 acres in Kesarapalli village under the airport land pooling scheme.
In return, they reportedly received a 17,580-square-yard commercial plot near the Western Bypass in Amaravati at a major three-road junction, 38 residential plots measuring 1,000 square yards each and an additional 150-square-yard residential plot.
According to estimates cited by activists, the plots allotted under the Gannavaram airport pooling scheme are currently worth more than Rs 5,300 crore, apart from annuity benefits.
