Expert panel suggests Andhra Pradesh capital should function from 3 places

New Delhi, Aug 31: Contrary to expectations, an expert committee set up by the Home Ministry has not recommended name of any particular place for establishment of the capital of residuary Andhdra Pradesh but suggested that the state government should function simultaneously from three different places.

The committee, headed by former Union Urban Development Secretary KM Sivaramakrishnan recommended that the capital and other institutions "be distributed" in three different regions of the state - Vishakhapattanam in Uttarandhra, Rayalaseema Arc comprising Kurnool, Anantapur, Tirupathi, Kadapa and Chittoor; and "Kalahasti - Nadikudi spine".

According to the report, which was submitted to the Home Ministry two days ago and made public tonight, said there will be no single capital for Andhra Pradesh. "Communication between different government offices is no longer an issue of physical proximity.

We recognise that our approach of distributed development is not convention and may be regarded as inconvenient and impractical by many officials.

But if distribution of development and governmental functions is desired in Andhra, we feel this approach should be followed. The Committee does not consider a single large capital city as a feasible option available to Andhra Pradesh as of now," the report said.

The Committee said the existing concentration in Hyderabad of the legislature, the courts and the executive comprising numerous ministries, departments, commissionerates and directorates has happened over several years. This concentration has itself been a major bone of contention in the process of bifurcation.

PTI