‘Temporary capital’ is the only word one hears now in the corridors of power. The hotly debated point is who is relocating to Amaravati or who is not. A race has begun in some corners of government to catch up with the June 15, 2016, the Muhurtam set for the temporary secretariat or temporary capital to start functioning. Officials of CRDA are busy in ensuring the completion of the secretariat building at Amaravati in time. While government units such as APSRTC, intelligence department and transport department are vying with each other to shift to Vijayawada as early as possible, heads of the department are reportedly exerting pressure on the employees to get ready for the shifting to Velagapudi, the village where the construction of temporary secretariat, has commenced in the capital region.
But what is forgotten in the din is the construction of capital city Amaravati. It is almost five months, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for the construction of Amaravati city on October 22,2015 in a spectacular function that reportedly cost about Rs 600 crore to the exchequer. The grand gala function was attended by lakhs of people and conducted with all rituals. In the series of capital festivals, it was the second and biggest of all, the first being the ground breaking ceremony and the third, the ceremony of the laying of foundation stone for the temporary government complex construction at Velagapudi.
But, there has been no discussion about the original project. Nothing is heard about the date when the civil works begin Amaravati proper or selection of master developer. As per the initial statements Singapore should construct the capital, later, the city state clarified, it’s role was only that of a facilitator. Year 2015 was the year of Singapore. Chief minister visited Singapore three or four times. Number of teams of officials and ministers visited. Government had also sent a batch of officials to Singapore for training in the Singapore governance and implementation of master plan. Similarly, Singapore ministers and official teams also visited a dozen times. Now, there has been no talk of Singapore, except extolling and recalling the generosity of the city state’s government in getting the Master Plan prepared as per the schedule. Later it was announced that Japan was also interested in pitching in. CM visited Japan and held talks with PM Abe. Later on Andhra Pradesh people were told even China and Malaysia also were evincing keen interest in the joining Amaravati capital project. What happened to this enthusiasm now?
Now, Chief Minister is on journey to the West from East. He set up Capital Amaravati Office in London. Addressing representatives of many big companies at Canary Wharf Chief Minister Naidu has invited them to become partners in the development of futuristic capital Amaravati. He had special meeting with London Stock Exchange CEO Nikhil Rathi who reportedly promised to mobilize funds for the Capital Amaravati.
It is now clear that Amaravati, in its massive form , spanning 7420 sq.km, 10 times bigger than Singapore and six times time than Chennai, is facing serious challenges of economic viability and funding. Talks have been going on with Hudco, Jica etc and other organization for more than six months. No progress reported so far. Amaravati, which is planned as world-class city is going to be the biggest challenge for Naidu. A day will soon come when he can no longer make people of AP feel proud of non-existent world-class city and its place in the comity of world cities in world’s in 2059.
Would Naidu’s journey from East to West to mobilize funding for the world-class capital come to fruition in 2016, the crucial year of his government to show some physical progress in raising the Amaravati or would Naidu make do with the temporary secretariat coming up in the capital region?
