After a lot of dilly dallying, Andhra Pradesh government has finally announced Vijayawada as its ad hoc capital for time being. Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu has taken this remarkable decision and said that Vijaywada will act like a momentary capital until the new, world-class capital is established. Mr Naidu has announced this decision after holding deliberations with Capital Advisory Committee.

Naidu directed officials to hunt, identify the makeshift offices to shift the AP government’s offices in Telangana to the new State. Chandra Babu has also asked officials to verify the condition of existing Medha Towers, I.T Park near Gannavaram Airport. Naidu’s decision has come close on the heels of Telangana Transport Minister Mahender Reddy’s warning to CM Naidu and his Cabinet to leave Hyderabad. AP government is of the opinion that it should not rely on Telangana government at any possibility and wants to move out of Hyderabad as early as possible. Though Hyderabad has been stated as joint capital for AP and Telangana as per the AP Reorganization Act 2013, the controversies brewing between AP and T are apparently forcing AP to shift its base.

While Irrigation Minister Devineni Uma has moved to Vijayawada long back, many others have recently decided to shift to the city. Ministers Kamineni Sreenivas, Siddha Raghava Rao and Pothu Ravindra are following the suit. With the AP government’s latest decision CM and other cabinet members are likely to join the bandwagon.

Meanwhile, Sivaramakrishnan committee, appointed by Centre, is expected to announce its recommendations by the end of August. Though committee will announce its recommendations, AP government will take its final call on the proposed capital. Government sources tell us Mr Naidu is adamant to make Vijayawada as AP capital and want to develop other regions simultaneously on par with it.