New Capital on the lines of 'Putrajaya'

HYDERABAD: After toying with the idea of constructing the new capital of Andhra Pradesh on the lines of Singapore city, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu now seems to be focusing his attention on studying the design of another planned city, Putrajaya, the 'administrative centre' of Malaysia while building the new capital city.

Naidu, who recently interacted with the representatives of Singapore government led by the island nation's consulate general Roy Kho, is expected to hold a crucial meeting with the representatives of Malaysian government here to take their suggestions on constructing the new capital of Seemandhra akin to Putrajaya and Singapore.

Naidu will interact with a six-member Malaysian delegation headed by Tan Sri Datuk Krishnan Tan Boon Seng, the president of the Malaysia-India Business Council (MIBC) and the chairman of the Malaysia India CEO Forum, here on Saturday.

According to sources, since, Putrajaya was constructed as a garden and intelligent city with 38 per cent of its area reserved for green spaces, Naidu wants to take a cue from the city while constructing a green capital for AP.

Members of the Sivaramakrishnan committee will have detailed interaction with Naidu. This meeting assumes significance as the Sivaramakrishnan panel will have to submit its report to the Centre recommending a suitable location for the new capital by the end of August.

He will discuss with the committee on how to pacify the agitating Rayalaseema leaders, who weree not happy over the way the new capital is being proposed out of their region. Locating second capital of AP in Rayalaseema is one among of the options being explored by Naidu to placate the Rayalaseema leaders.

25,000-30,000 Acres Needed for New Capital

Municipal administration minister P Narayana said 25,000-30,000 acres of land is needed to build the new capital with world-class standards. He, however, felt that Gandhinagar (Gujarat capital), Naya Raipur (upcoming capital of Chhattisgarh), which are recent examples for planned capital cities in the country, are built in an area of 4,000 acres only.

But, these two cities reserved vast tracts of vacant lands for future needs. Meanwhile, he disclosed that the land acquisition for AP's new capital would be done keeping in view of the needs that could arise in the next 200 to 300 years.

According to him, the government is planning to acquire lands from private persons in such a manner that land owners will be given a proportionate share in the developed land.

New Capital City

New Capital to be nearer to Vijayawada and Guntur

Govt zeroing in on Mangalagiri, Nuzvid, Amaravathi and Vinukonda to construct the capital.

The advisory panel may visit Gandhinagar, Naya Raipur, Chandigarh to study their models.

It will also visit Singapore, Malaysia, America, Australia whose capitals are planned cities.

The panel has begun selecting consultants to suggest best architects to build a world-class capital.

First Intelligent Garden City

Putrajaya is a planned city located 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's national capital. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to overcrowding in Kuala Lumpur.