Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government requires a lot of funds for the first phase of capital construction, but it will not sell even a square yard of the high-cost 30,000 acres to raise finances.
This is to instill confidence among farmers and land owners that the land they surrender for the capital will not be exploited by the government, and that every bit of it would be used in a transparent manner.
“The government will spend Rs 1 crore to develop each acre by providing underground sewerage network and water distribution lines, six-lane roads, parks and other infrastructure. After that, the cost of the land will sky rocket,” a member of the Cabinet sub-committee on land pooling told Deccan Chronicle.
Though the government can easily sell the developed land left with it after giving the farmers’ share, it will not do so, he said. “People can be confident that the AP government will not do business with their land.”
“The government will be left with less than 8,000 acres of land to build important administrative buildings. It will be a sector-wise development on the lines of Chandigarh. International architects and designers who have been involved in building world class capitals will be invited to design AP’s capital after the land pooling exercise is completed. Land pooling is expected to be completed in three months,” municipal minister Dr P. Narayana said.
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The 8,000 acres will be used to build the Secretariat along with the CM’s office, Legislative Assembly and Council, quarters for AIS officers and staff, commissionerates, directorates, hospitals, schools and post-graduate colleges.
