AP's new capital to be at Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday announced that the new capital of residuary State will be near Vijayawada.

Making the announcement in the State Legislative Assembly here, the Chief Minister said that a Cabinet Sub-Committee was being constituted for land pooling. Unlike Hyderabad, where all the government offices are located at one place, the AP Government would decentralise the power centres. The State will have three Mega Cities and 14 Smart Cities, Naidu said.

The announcement was made at sharp 11.11 AM, the time suggested by the astrologers to be most auspicious.

Naidu made the announcement amid strong protest by the opposition YSR Congress Party which demanded debate on the new capital. Interestingly, the Chief Minister also ignored the fact the Centre was yet to take a final call on the report submitted by the Sivaramakrishnan Committee on the new capital.

The Chief Minister informed that the decision on the new capital was taken during the cabinet meeting held on September 1. In his 20-page statement, Naidu disclosed the details of government's plan for the new capital and its vision to develop Andhra Pradesh. He said that the decision to establish new capital at Vijayawada was taken in the public interest. He said equal importance would be given to each of the 13 districts in the State.

Naidu said that the Vijayawada and Tirupati airports would be developed at international airports. He said Srikakulam would be developed as a Smart City and an airport would also be constructed. Kakinada will be developed as PCIC Corridor. Similarly, a Greenfield airport will be constructed in Vijayanagaram. He also gave details of what the government plans for each of the 13 districts in residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.