Land Allocated During YSRCP Government for PV Sindhu Academy
To encourage world badminton champion PV Sindhu, who brought global recognition to India through her achievements, the then YSRCP government decided to establish a world-class Badminton Academy at Thotagaruvu in Visakhapatnam. As part of this commitment, then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy allotted two acres of valuable government land in 2021 for the proposed academy.
Later, after PV Sindhu requested additional space for the expansion of the project, the government sanctioned one more acre, taking the total land allocation to three acres. The ambitious Centre for Badminton and Sports Excellence project was thus initiated during the YSRCP government’s tenure.
TDP’s Earlier Demand for a Junior College
The project had earlier become a subject of political discussion when TDP leaders reportedly demanded that the land be allotted for a junior college, citing delays in the construction of the badminton academy.
Despite the controversy, on November 7, 2024, PV Sindhu, accompanied by her parents, performed the Bhoomi Puja at the same site, formally marking the beginning of the academy’s construction.
Fresh Foundation Stone Ceremony by Minister Nara Lokesh
Recently, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh laid a foundation stone for the academy at the same location. The ceremony and the subsequent publicity suggesting that the present government played the key role in bringing the project forward have triggered a fresh political debate.
Critics argue that the land was allotted in 2021 and the Bhoomi Puja had already taken place in 2024, long before the present government’s involvement. They allege that the current administration is attempting to claim credit for a project that was initiated under the previous government.
Political Debate Over Project Credit
The latest development has reignited discussions over political ownership of development projects in Andhra Pradesh. Critics claim that the coalition government has been taking credit for several projects that were conceived or launched during the previous YSRCP administration.
Against this backdrop, the fresh foundation ceremony for the PV Sindhu Badminton Academy has become another point of political contention. Several sports enthusiasts and political observers believe that holding another foundation event on land already allotted by the previous government has intensified the debate over project credit, with both sides presenting differing narratives about their respective roles in the academy’s development.
