The Andhra Pradesh Government has intensified the process for shifting of the State administration to the new capital Amaravati.
The Government on Tuesday permitted the Capital Region Development Authority to call for tenders for construction of secretariat with an office space of 6 lakh sq. ft spread over 20 acres. The cost of the construction is expected to be close to Rs.180 crore and the Government wanted the CRDA to invite tenders for both conventional and pre-fabricated systems giving time upto June 30 next year for completion of the work.
The Government had agreed to sanction Rs.90 crore interest-free loan to the CRDA and authorise the capital authority to seek the balance of the required loan from the HUDCO on normal terms and conditions. The decision comes in the light of the firmness expressed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to shift the secretariat latest by June next year in the interest of administration.
CRDA Secretary Ajay Jain said, in the orders issued, that the CRDA Commissioner proposed to construct office space of 6 lakh sq.ft with an estimated Rs.300 crore. The investment by the Government would be of the order of Rs.150 crore by way of interest-free loan and the remaining Rs.150 crore would be obtained from the HUDCO with a repayment period of 15-20 years at an interest rate of 10.65 per cent.
The space would be allocated to the departments after the completion of construction on rental basis and the lease amount would be paid to the CRDA for repayment of loan.
The Government had accordingly permitted the CRDA to call for tenders for the construction with an estimated Rs.180 crore. The departments had been asked to pay monthly lease rentals from their budgetary grant to the CRDA and they would be allotted required office space on pre-decided monthly rental basis.
