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Vijayawada, poor cousin of Amaravati!
Highlights
The latest move to shift the Secretariat employees of Andhra Pradesh government to Vijayawada has been a shot-in-the-arm for the campaigners that Vijayawada, the historic and political capital of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh, has opened up a live debate whether the infrastructure therein is enough and will it (Vijayawada) become a poor cousin of Amaravati.
As AP government has launched a drive to relocate its various departments and offices to Vijayawada, it raises doubts in the minds of locals whether the available social and economic infrastructure would suffice to integrate the new residents. It is leading to commotion as the locals have to share the existing infrastructure with a huge mass of people expected to join from Hyderabad in the coming days. They feel, it may even trigger cultural and mindset issues as the locals may have to undergo a trauma till the dust settles, although the city has already embraced cosmopolitan culture
The latest move to shift the Secretariat employees of Andhra Pradesh government to Vijayawada has been a shot-in-the-arm for the campaigners that Vijayawada, the historic and political capital of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh, has opened up a live debate whether the infrastructure therein is enough and will it (Vijayawada) become a poor cousin of Amaravati.
The spiralling land rates in the coastal city and the prospects of a huge infrastructural boom emerging in the state’s capital located next door has reinvented the focus on the life style, economy and other social aspects of the anticipated migration from Hyderabad, the temporary joint capital for 10 years.
New Capital City
The Union government has recently announced its support to the programme for development of backward districts and agreed to provide assistance for creation of a new capital, including the Raj Bhavan, high court, government secretariat, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, and such other essential infrastructure.
Funds crunch apart, the AP government's amazing efforts to create a global environment on the banks of Krishna River has already triggered a flood of support and interest for state. It appears that the AP CM's mantra for development - think big - seems to be paying dividends.
A good number of industrial houses and investors have already evinced interest in setting up their offices and production facilities in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh more precisely Vijayawada, Guntur and other neighbouring locations, with committed investments.
To allay fears of politicians and land holders, the government had let loose a campaign and also a glittering image of the things to come. Like, "Secretariat in a 40 floor sky rise, Assembly in a 7 storey ultra modern complex and Raj Bhavan in a state-of-the-art valley".
Thanks to the artistic visuals of the Amaravati city, which are being circulated in business brochures and website updates, the scare has further escalated deep in to the minds of the residents of Vijayawada that they were no doubt the poor cousins of Amaravati city.
Now, they have started arguing about the social and environmental impact on Vijayawada. “We have conceded that we will become part of the huge masses being developed in the name of capital city, but we will like the development be more homely without much of cultural changes,” says a resident who owns a house on the bank of River Krishna.
In fact, as claimed and opposed by the environment groups, the social and environmental changes will impact the city and life of the present residents. Vijayawada will no doubt get additional infrastructure in terms of roads, metro rail, fly-overs, ultra modern toilets and housing etc along with the proposed Amaravati, where the forest and fertile land will be replaced with concrete jungles.
Echoing similar opinion, another resident, who welcomed the developments, but expressed fears that the existing social infrastructure, like roads, water, housing etc, is not sufficient for new people who are expected to relocate from Hyderabad, i.e. the government employees.
“We are already suffering from narrow roads, low water supply, insufficient houses etc, and with the addition of more migrations from Hyderabad, it will surely increase our problems, unless government focused on short term expansion of the infrastructure,” he says.
On the other hand, the campaigners for 'development' had booed them as “scuttlers of growth” and say that regardless of the degree of development expected in Amaravati city, the Vijayawada will retain its position in the annals of the new state.
Brushing aside the fears of locals, supporters of new capital city say, Vijayawada and Amaravati will grow like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar or Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
But the nearest analogy was that it would be like Golconda and Hyderabad cities of the NIzam's regime.
In spite of the agenda of the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to create the opposite, the pressure of the investors of Singapore construction companies and the Chinese builders, the blue prints of the second phase of Amaravati city clearly indicate the larger design to promote a sustainable platform for the investors. What with the AP government providing 99 years lease for all investors and construction companies.
Many say that the good connectivity such as roads, rail and air at Vijayawada have provided a spring board for the capital city construction activity. Vijayawada is already home for star hotels, convention malls, car rental agencies and service apartments. What the future holds for Vijayawada in the company of Amaravati is still a million dollar question.
KVVV Charya
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