Former Union Minister and BJP leader Kavuri Sambasiva Rao on Saturday called for locating the new capital of the residuary Andhra Pradesh between Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. “The Krishna-Godavari river basin is the ideal place to build the new capital,” Mr. Rao said. Members of the Expert Committee of the Union Home Ministry set up to look into the issue, are scheduled to meet in Vijayawada on Sunday. Mr. Rao said he would personally call on the members to express his views on the matter.
Mr. Rao pointed to what he called “sufficient government land in Nuzvid, Chintalapudi and Jangareddygudem areas, in addition to vast stretches of forest land between the two river basins” and emphasised the need to establish the High Court, Assembly and the Secretariat at different locations to ensure equal development of all areas, unlike in the case of Hyderabad.
Proposing decentralisation, he said IT, administrative, industrial and educational hubs could be set up at different places.
The BJP leader said the Centre should build the new capital on a fast-track mode. “Ten years is too long a period for the residuary Andhra Pradesh to run its administration from Hyderabad. It must be shifted within one or two years,” he said.
Stressing the need for special incentives, Mr. Rao said the proposed special status was needed to develop the eight backward districts in the north coastal region and Rayalaseema.
The region has the potential to be developed as an export hub, besides being a centre for trade in food grain, poultry, meat, fruit and aqua products. This could be attained by developing the ports at Ramayapatnam, Narsapur, Machilipatnam and Kakinada. A Metro Rail project in the Guntur-Vijayawada and Vijayawada-Rajahmundry sections and development of Gannavaram airport are crucial, he said.
