Chandrababu Naidu firm on capital despite resistance from farmers

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday ruled out plans to change the location of the capital city despite stiff resistance from farmers over surrendering lands.

The capital cannot be located in a forest area as it should have a vibrant social life, he said. “If we build the capital in a forest area only we (administration and officials) will have to stay there.

A capital city should have a socio-economic life. There should be a population of at least 20 lakh to 25 lakh. I went to Japan. In Tokyo, the population is over 1.30 crore and it is 1.80 crore in Greater Tokyo. There are two airports and two to three ports,” he said.

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Mr Naidu said while Singapore will prepare the master plan, Japan will help the AP government in the construction, environmental and urban planning projects in the capital city.

The AP government will decide what help has to be taken from Singapore and Japan for building a world class capital. Japan wants to help the AP government in building the capital city as it provides investment opportunity and also as it gives credit to them of having partnered in the development of a world class capital, said Mr Naidu.

“We will speed up the process of building the capital city. Singapore’s trade and commerce minister Iswaran will visit Hyderabad on December 8 and details of building the capital and other plans will be discussed.

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We will also decide whether an ordinance has to be brought out in connection with the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). You will know it in a day or two,” Mr Naidu said.