Andhra Capital Conundrum

There are megacities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Madras, Bangalore and Hyderabad as capitals for the states in India. We do not know whether they can be called world class or not. The remaining 23 states have smaller cities as capitals. We definitely can say they are not world class. Yet, they are functioning as capitals of the respective states for decades.

It is good for every state to have a city like our mega cities for prestige and for some inherent advantages. But, as history reveals, it is not possible to create mega cities with a predisposition and in a short span of time. Like the humans, cities also have their stars for their prosperity and growth. All the 28 state capitals did not become Mumbai. The modern city capitals like Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, and Gandhinagar planned to be capitals, also did not get graduated to mega cities in the last several decades.

For seemandhras to lose a city like Hyderabad in the demerger is a traumatic experience indeed. Their yearning for a city like it for their capital is understandable. But, their, at least their political leadership’s fixation for a world class city like, Singapore, Putrajaya, Chicago etc. in its place is highly farfetched. It simply does not make sense. Prudence demands that we make our bread according to our dough. Gujarathis, just because they have lost Mumbai, they did not try to create another Mumbai in Gujarat. Gandhinagar as capital is serving their interests admirably well.

The residual Andhra Pradesh has a GDP of $39 Billion with about $1500 PCI; Singapore’s GDP is $300 Billion with $55000 PCI; Malaysia’s GDP is $312 Billion with $14,880 PCI. The economy of residual A.P. with around one lakh crores annual budget, 70% of which goes for establishment expenditure, does not support a ‘world class’ capital dream. Even if they are planning to do it with private investment and sharing it with government in that bizarre land pooling style, it can be too big for the government to manage it with its limited economic resources. It cannot be cost effective and financially feasible.

Even if that profligate real estate is created, there need to be the clientele to use it and pay for it. It can create a real estate cataclysm. Some sample of which is already being experienced in Hyderabad’s demand and supply of real estate.There is no need to create such a superfluous white elephant, while other pragmatic alternatives are available.

“The government has no job doing real estate business in the name of land pooling. Its business is to govern the state by making use of government lands.” Said Prof Yellamanchili Shivaji, former MP and a noted environmentalist.Obviously there is something more than what meets the eye for the CM rooting for Chicago style capital city on both sides of Krishna river in the vicinity of Vijayawada.

It is not very difficult to surmise the reasons. It is already being discussed everywhere. Residual A.P. has three political regions North coastal; Central coastal and Rayalaseema with Nellore. In these three regions some social groups are predominant influencing the political dominance as is the case elsewhere in India. North coastal region predominates with some OBC castes, which are not as dominant as in other two regions individually to swing the political decisions in their favor.

That is why though Vizag is the biggest city and has more merit to be the capital of the state, it is not being considered. The central coastal districts are dominated by Kammas. The Rayalaseema with Nellore district is Reddy caste strong hold. The competition is between these two groups. Since the present government is headed by CBN a Kamma and is supported by his politico-corporate social group, he is pitching for Vijayawada the stronghold of Kamma community. The Rayalaseema region which was demanding Kurnool the erstwhile capital of Andhra state is losing the game because of their not being in the ruling dispensation.

The Sivaramakrishnan Committee has recommended Donakonda region in between the two political regions of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema as a preferred place for the capital. It has better credentials both political and economical for a long lasting and developing capital city.But CBN’s predilection and his political clout with the proximity to the Center is not making it possible. The government has bulldozed the opposition from Rayalaseema and has decided Vijayawada as capital even before the ink has dried on the committee’s report or its contents are fully came out.

But this political equation can change.Rayalaseema region will not be happy with the capital being setup in Vijayawada with the political bullying of CBN and his cohorts. Though the region is subdued now the issue can snow ball in to a major controversy, reminiscent of forced merger of Andhra and Telangana without consensus in 1956. In this context the preference of Sivaramakrishnan Committee for Donakonda region makes ample sense. For, the place is in Prakasham district which comprises parts from earlier Gunturu,Kurnool and Nellore districts and also represents the two politically dominant social groups in equal measure.There is every possibility of consensus on it from both the regions.

In a way Donakonda divides the state in to two, more or less equal political regions with neither of the social groups feeling left out. Besidesit is centrally located with rail, road and air connectivity with plenty of government land for spatial expansion transforming the place steadily, phase wise, in to a mega city of India class if not world class.

It will also avoid causing much stress to state’s exchequer or causing real estate disasters.It does not bode well for the future of the state if the CM with his personal agenda fires the Vijayawada Capital blunderbuss, aimlessly. History can repeat itself, if the people at the helm do not learn the lessons from it and behave responsibly.

Professor Shivaji in a TV discussion observed that CBN might have sown the seed for Separate Rayalaseema by his ham handed announcement of Vijayawada as Capital, without consensus.