Ex-CM Jagan Reddy Built ₹500-Crore Hilltop Palace Secretly In Vizag

Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy constructed a new residence for the CM, which is no less than a luxurious palace with Rs. 500 crores in Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam. This CM residence is a sea-facing property in Vishakaptanma’s Rushikonda Hill, which was initially a tourism project and the former office of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy. The palace comprises lavish amenities such as 10–12 lakh commodes, 40 lakh bathtubs, and 2 lakh chandeliers.

The costs include a 4-tonne castle AC for 1 lakh, 33 crores spent on interior decoration, and 50 crores on landscaping the 9-acre property. The palace is constructed in a total area of 1,41,433 square metres and has 12 bedrooms. The whole complex, including the bathrooms, had central air conditioning. Highlights included a sea-facing dining hall, 12 beds in all the bedrooms, and spa facilities in the bathrooms. The palace includes seven building blocks, which feature deluxe suites, banquet halls, restaurants, and lounges.

All the expenses for the palace were from the state funds.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) accused the former YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP government of secretly constructing a luxurious hilltop palace in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) behind large barricades. TDP claimed that the lavish property on Rushikonda Hill was intended as a camp office for Jagan Reddy, who had declared Vizag the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The project involved carving out the serene Rushikonda hills to build three palaces, with the Jagan government reportedly spending Rs 407 crore out of the estimated Rs 452 crore on the project. Nara Lokesh, Andhra Minister, and YS Sharmila Jagan’s sister have demanded an investigation into this spending, accusing Jagan of misusing public funds. As this political conflict continues, the keys to the palace are with the TDB, making the future of the palace and Jagan Mohan uncertain.

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Political reactions

TDP MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao targeted former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, drawing focus on Rushikonda Hill in Visakhapatnam, projected as a tourism spot. On Sunday, TDP’s Bheemili MLA, along with members of the Jana Sena Party, entered the site, repeating claims that a 61-acre resort being developed by the YSRCP in power there is for a “CM residence” for Jagan.The ruling party insiders said that the issue was being used to highlight Jagan’s misgovernance before people. The TDP leader stated, “His scams started with the Praja Vedika and the way he wanted to make Visakhapatnam the capital so his allies who bought land here could profit from it.”

The YSRCP has accused the TDP of a political agenda and claimed that the present government wants to discredit the opposition with baseless charges. A close source of former minister Gudivada Amarnath, who lost from the nearby Anakapalli Assembly seat, reacted, “They are trying to exploit the capital issue for their benefit, but we are ready for the challenge.”