The establishment of a new capital for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh is likely in the Vijayawada- Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri (VGTM) urban region.
Though the chief minister-designate N. Chandrababu Naidu has kept his choice of location of capital city a secret so far, those close to him have thrown enough hints of VGTM being a favourite. Industrial bigwigs too are pitching for the region.
Officials have already identified over 5,000 acres of government land near Mangalagiri for building the State secretariat. Mangalagiri is close to Vijayawada and Guntur railway junctions and has National Highways 5 and 9 passing through it. In addition to abundant availability of water, the region is well connected via air through Gannavaram airport near Vijayawada.
Incidentally, Mr. Naidu is all set to take oath of office on the outskirts of Mangalagiri on June 8 and is expected to take up temporary operations there till a capital is constructed.
“There was a plan to make use of 12,000 and odd acres of government land available at Bapulapadu ahead of Gannavaram airport, for the construction of a mini city,” said a senior government official.