Central panel recommends either Marutur, Vinukonda or Donakonda as Andhra capital

Vijayawada: Having rejected the area around Vijayawada and Guntur as a possible site for Andhra Pradesh’s capital, the Centre-appointed Sivaramakrishna Committee has said the state Assembly, the chief minister’s office and the secretariat can be considered in either Marutur, Vinukonda or Donakonda of the Srikalahasti spine.

The committee had warned of long-term economic and environmental consequences if the capital was based in the Vijayawada-Guntur region.

The Srikalahasti-Nadikudi line will intersect Vinukonda on the Bangalore-Guntur rail line and terminate at Nadikudi. The committee report has said 300 acres of land is required for the Chief Minister’s Office and the secretariat, including housing.

Even if the Assembly and council are located in this zone, once in a year the legislature session should be held in the Rayalaseema area, the report said.

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The Sivaramakrishna Committee said in the report that the Kalahasti-Nadikudi railway line is and important project that can bring major changes for southern Andhra. The Kalhasti spine plays a key role in the Vizag-Chennai industrial corridor.

The committee suggested putting up directorates of mines and minerals in Anantapur and directorate of state ports and commissioner of industries in the Vizag zone.

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These are, however, recommendations by the committee and are not binding on the state government. The state’s decision is final on the location of the capital.

It is understood Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu does not favour these recommended sites. He is more in favour of the Krishna-Guntur region.