Sivaramakrishnan panel: Capital need not be in centre of Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam: Making their first stop in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, the Centre-appointed new capital scouting Sivaramakrishnan Committee said the new capital of the residuary state need not be located centrally in the 13 districts.
The announcement could reinvigorate demands from the city to make it the next capital as the committee said location is not a disqualification for aspiring cities. The Committee also said an existing city or a green city could be developed as the new capital and either is not very difficult.
The committee members, Rathin Roy, Aromar Revi, Jagan Shah and K.T. Ravindran arrived in Visakhapatnam on Friday evening.
They visited Anandapuram, Madhurawada, Steel Plant, Atchutapuram, Parawada, IT Park at Rushikonda and few other places in the city on Saturday and held discussions with various departments, including the district administration, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda), Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), police officials, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and few others to study the feasibility of Vizag as a new capital city for the state of Andhra Pradesh.
However, chairman of the expert committee retired IAS officer Sivaramakrishnan was absent due to ill health.
While interacting with the media, Dr Rathin Roy, Director Indian Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi, said that based on some parameters (available of land, existing infrastructure and few others) suggested by the central government they are visiting some cities in residuary Andhra Pradesh to identify the new capital.
He also said they would submit their report to the Centre by August 31 this year.
Asked about the city and its prospects, the Committee said, “Visakhapatnam is a beautiful city.”
However, Mr Rathin Roy, Mr Aromar Revi, Mr Jagan Shah, and Mr Ravindran said their decision was not binding on any government and can be ignored as their committee is not an empowered committee and could only make suggestions in their report for a suitable capital of Seemandhra.
When asked if there were any objections from the defence establishment in the city, the committee members said the officials of Eastern Naval Command did not object and they received positive feedback everywhere.
