Hyderabad: Rejecting the demand by prominent personalities from Rayalaseema that the AP capital should be set in the region, Deputy Chief Minister and Kurnool strongman K.E. Krishnamurthy said if AP needs to be developed like Hyderabad, the capital should be centrally located in the state.
Speaking to this newspaper on Saturday, the senior politician, said, “I am of the opinion that instead of deciding the new capital immediately, I feel all important cities and towns of the 13 districts in AP should be developed as smart cities first and then go for establishing the new capital at a centralised location. If it is announced now, everyone will go and try to settle in the capital area only.”
When his attention was drawn to the demand that the capital should be in Kurnool as it has already served as capital between 1953-56 for Andhra state, Mr Krishnamurthy said “I will be certainly happy as it is my place, but Hyderabad is located centrally for Telanga-na. Similarly Seem-andhra capital should also be located centrally so that people from all the districts can reach it. Vizag is not being considered because it is faraway from Rayalaseema.
“More than other locations, Kurnool will be nearer to Hyderabad. It has excellent connectivity as within two hours one can reach Kurnool from Hyderabad. The AP High Court could be established in Kurnool like Guntur got it when Andhra state capital was in Kurnool.” he said.
Mr Krishnamurthy said he had requested Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to consider it. “Both Naidu and I belong to Rayalaseema and we are aware of the concerns of the people there and will do justice in solving their problems.”
Regarding the specific location of the capital city, he said, “It could be between Vijayawada-Eluru or Vijayawada-Guntur, Amaravati or Donakonda, but I hear there is vastu problem for Amaravati.
The Siivaramakrishnan committee will soon suggest a location.” he concluded.
