Hyderabad: AP’s seed capital plan submitted by Singapore-based Surbana Consultants to the government indicates that Lingaya-palem, Tallayapalem and Uddandarayuni-palem areas will form the 'Down Town' core area and the capital complex area of Amaravati. The three villages will be acquired and the villagers shifted out. The existing settlements will have to be moved out to construct the core capital.
Krishnayapalem, Malkapuram and Velagapudi are the other villages that form the seed (core) capital area. A city park will be developed on an island and named Udandarayuni palem lanka. Singapore planners had given three options regarding the seed capital with a minimum area of 8.8 sq.km to a maximum area of 15.8 sq.km. Mandadam will be untouched and will be declared a heritage village.
Sources said pedestrian bridges will be constructed to connect islands in the Krishna River to the capital city. “A clean water reservoir and efficient storm and drainage water treatment systems are part of the plan for the seed capital. The water front with a length of 8 km will have an active edge and a free space of 400 metres walking distance to the water front. The seed capital plan will be unveiled tomorrow at Rajahmundry” said a top official.
Interestingly the seed development master plan revealed that both sides of the riverfront, including the Krishna district side, will be used for waterfront structures and amenities. A dedicated Bus Rapid Transport and Mass Rapid Transport system and integration of both will be part of the transport plan.
“Good accessibility to bypass roads, treatment and discharge of drain water, collection of drain water, city level drainage network and a water system to channel the city level storm water drain plans are provided. A high speed rail, rail station and MRT station will also come up. Most of the key structures will be in and around Uddanda-rayunipalem and Talla-yapalem,” Mr Parakala Prabhakar, advisor to the AP government said. The capital city will have a grand entrance.
Meanwhile, Amar-avati’s boundary has been revised by an additional 164 sq.km taking the total area to 374 sq.km. Officials said this revision of area by adding approximately an additional 20,000 acres is only for capital city planning purpose in order to fix urbanisation limits and the land will not be acquired from farmers and no buildings will come up here now. Depending on future needs the additional area will be converted for urbanisation purposes. The minister for municipal administration said a decision is yet to be taken on extending the capital city.
