Seemandhra to get premier institutions

After the formation of separate Telangana state, the Central government will establish institutions of national importance in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh, comprising Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra. As several institutions of higher learning are concentrated in and around Hyderabad, the central government has offered a package to Seemandhra, whose leaders are still not ready to accept the bifurcation.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 for formation of separate Telangana state has promised that premier institutions will be established in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh during 12th and 13th five-year plans (2012-2022).

The proposed institutions include an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), one central university, one agricultural university and one International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT).

The government will establish one AIIMS-type super-specialty hospital-cum- teaching institution in Andhra Pradesh and one tribal university each in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.The proposal to set up premier institutions is aimed at allaying the apprehensions of Seemandhra people. The other proposals include declaring Hyderabad a common capital for 10 years. The current admission quota and admission process in institutes of higher education will also continue for this period.

The locations for the proposed institutions will be decided after an expert committee identifies a new capital for Andhra Pradesh. The bill also says that a new major port will be developed at Duggirajupatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The port's first phase will be completed by 2018. "IOC (Indian Oil Corp) or HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd) shall examine the feasibility of establishing a greenfield crude oil refinery and petrochemical complex in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh," says the bill. The government will examine the feasibility of establishing a Vizag-Chennai industrial corridor along the lines of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. It will also examine the feasibility of expanding the existing Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati airports. The railways will examine establishing a new railway zone and consider measures to establish rapid rail and road connectivity from the new capital of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad.

The central government has also made certain proposals for Telangana. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) will examine the feasibility of establishing an integrated steel plant in Khammam district of Telangana.

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will examine the feasibility of establishing a 4000 MW power plant in Telangana. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will take necessary steps to improve road connectivity in the backward regions of Telangana. The railways will examine the feasibility of establishing a rail coach factory.