AP Capital shift to Amaravathi soon: Yanamala

The Andhra Pradesh Government will soon start functioning from Amaravathi by shifting the officials besides framing new rules by cancelling irrelevant Article 371 (D) in the State post bifurcation. “This Article was incorporated in the Constitution to address situation based issues in 1974 and is irrelevant now after bifurcation and we will cancel it to make new rules for our State”, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishundu has said.

Thus he brought down curtains on the speculations and criticism of delay on the proposed shifting of capital city to Andhra Pradesh. Ramakrishnudu today clarified that soon they will switch over to Amaravathi and an exercise was on to provide suitable accommodation now.

Talking to mediapress persons here on Monday, Yanamala said, “We will soon shift to Amaravathi and begin functioning from there which will boost financial deals and transactions. The Government will shift the officials and staff as per Jawahar Committee for smooth and fair governance from Amaravathi”, he said. About 6 lakh sqft of space was available at Vijayawada, Guntur and Nuzvid for the purpose. “For this, we are involved in an exercise of finding offices and accommodation for the ministers and officials”, Rarmakrishnudu stated.

The government is examining some 252 apartments and 31 villas for accommodating ministers and officials. “Based on local situation, we will take a decision on paying rent for private buildings and shift at the earliest to the new capital area,” he said. He also said they will bring in new rules to replace existing zonal system. “We will cancel zonal system as Article 371 (D) which is irrelevant now. That article was incorporated in the Constitution through 32nd amendment in 1974 to safeguard the rights of locals on education and employment”, he added. (NSS)