Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is learnt to have asked the officials concerned to prepare a blueprint of state-of-the-art facilities that would be required for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The direction comes in the light of indications given by the committee headed by former IAS officer K.S. Sivaramakrishnan that the panel would submit its report suggesting locations that could house the new seat of State administration in mid August.
This would be followed by elaborate consultations involving the State Government as well as the stakeholders including the trade and business community.
“The process is likely to take two more months before the work on the capital is kick started,” a member of Mr. Naidu’s core team told The Hindu . Mr. Naidu, who indicated his interest in locating the new seat of State administration on Krishna-Guntur border wanted the officials concerned to utilise the available time to complete feasibility study as also the logistics and infrastructure that will be required for the new State headquarters. He is keen on putting in place a high speed network and effective communication facilities from the day one.
During their deliberations with Mr. Naidu in Hyderabad on Saturday, the committee members who toured some major cities in coastal Andhra reportedly wanted him to take firm steps to address the unemployment issue that had the scope for becoming an irritant to the administration in the coming days.
Mr. Naidu, on his part, has directed the officials to work out pros and cons of various issues including land acquisition in the proposed location abutting the Acharya Nagarjuna University.
The Government is anticipating some resistance from farmers in the area as the location happens to be a fertile land abutting Krishna river. “Mr. Naidu has asked the officials to examine the scope for involving farmers in the development in the event of any resistance from them,” a senior leader said.
The Chief Minister has also asked the officials to examine the avenues for attracting investments into the new capital as this would form an important component in building the required infrastructure.
