In a major policy decision, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to grant independent status to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) and de-link it from the municipal administration and urban development department. The move is set to bring changes in the administration as majority of issues concerning the development of the new capital will be dealt by the CRDA independently. The municipal administration department’s role will be limited to supervising the municipal and urban area management and smart cities project.
The decision came in the wake of an argument that frequent changes in the municipal administration were affecting the functioning of the CRDA because of which Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu wanted to insulate the affairs of the capital from regular governance.
Once bestowed with autonomy, CRDA can directly enter into agreements with foreign companies for the development of the capital and raise funds from various foreign and domestic financial institutions.
The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act does not allow state governments to raise loans beyond a prescribed limit and making the CRDA independent is to overcome this hurdle. The independent capital agency will be allowed to enter into agreements with all stake-holders and at the same time mobilise funds from various sources. The AP government also planning to seek special funds under different heads from the Centre exclusively for the development of infrastructure in and around the capital region and CRDA will play key role in preparing detailed project reports for these schemes.
The state government has already announced that it would start works on the new capital on October 22, for which it has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and few dignitaries from Japan and Singapore.
The four important nodes of Amaravati Seed Capital
Government Core
The Government Core will be the seat of power and administration. It will house the government buildings like Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, High Court and other government institutions.
Amaravati Downtown
The Downtown of Amaravati will be the commercial heart of the Capital city. The Downtown, spread across 68 hectares, will house the iconic high-rise buildings which will be a mix of commercial and residential spaces.
The two parcels on the northern side of that face the water front will be designed as iconic twin towers. The Amaravati Downtown will have the best access through public transport.
Amaravati Gateway
This node will form the first impression of the City as it will be the gateway between the Capital City and the Seed Capital. The Gateway bridge will be an iconic construction that will welcome people into the Capital City.
Covering 45 hectares, it will also give one of the best views of the Capital City from across the river.
Amaravati Waterfront
The Amaravati Waterfront will be a recreational space for public. Large public buildings will dot across the Waterfront through which people can travel in boats. The Waterfront will have a mix of commercial as well as public activity.
