For the construction of the new capital city of residual Andhra Pradesh, in the backdrop of Hyderabad remaining with the newly carved out Telangana after 10 years, state Chief Minister-designate Nara Chandrababu Naidu has estimated a cost of ₹2 lakh crore.
"Capital city means not just brick and mortar. The capital city should have all aspects of social life of people. The new city should be a complete capital city with a combination of civilian life and trade and commerce. It should attract people from all corners and settle there," Naidu reportedly told a meeting of high officials of the state government on Sunday in Hyderabad.
The meeting was held at Naidu's residence. The state's Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao, Chief Secretary of the State Finance Department D Sambashiva Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of TRANSCO Surech Chand and several other heads of the state departments attended the meeting.
Naidu had asked these officials, in a previous meeting, to estimate the cost for building a complete capital city for Andhra Pradesh. The officials calculated the cost and gave the estimation to Naidu.
The meeting dwelt in detail on building a new capital city, and the expenditure it required. Naidu told the officials to prepare a detailed proposal on the new capital city's construction, in order to submit to the Union government for finance allocation.
Naidu is understood to have asked the officials to be ready to build the new capital at the earliest, by taking all possible support from the Centre.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the elections, had assured all support to build a new capital city for AP, on the lines of Gandhinagar, which was built when Gujarat was bifurcated out of Maharashtra.
At the meeting, the officials also informed Naidu about key aspects like electricity distribution, irrigational projects and allocation of employees. Naidu was also appraised about the ongoing arrangements for his swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister near Guntur.
Meanwhile, the State Finance Department and Accountant General have made it clear to Naidu that the residuary AP would face a revenue deficit of ₹15,691 crore for the 2014-15 financial year, whereas Telangana has a surplus revenue of ₹3,555 crore.
The meeting also discussed plans to overcome such an adverse financial situation, by taking all possible support from the Centre.
For Naidu's swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister of AP on 8 June, PM Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, Union ministers and other leaders are expected to attend.
Naidu has not announced his probable council of ministers so far. It is understood that there are too many MLAs who are aspiring to become ministers in Naidu's government.
