“This will become a model in government enterprise architecture in India,” chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.
The Andhra Pradesh government is rechristening the AP State Enterprise Architecture (APSEA) as ‘e-Pragati’, with which it has become the first state in India to conceive and execute state-wide enterprise architecture.
“This will become a model in government enterprise architecture in India,” chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said. Developed over eight months in association with Wipro, ePragati is a comprehensive framework for implementing e-Governance that provides e-services to people in Andhra Pradesh.
The network extends to 33 secretariat departments and over 300 government agencies in the state and seeks to provide a bouquet of 745 services in the government to customer (G2C), government to business (G2B), government to enterprise (G2E) and government to government (G2G) areas.
It consists of 72 projects grouped into 14 packages with an estimated outlay of Rs 2,358 crores which will be funded and implemented over a three-year period. Of this, the government will invest Rs 1,528 crore and the remaining would come through the PPP mode. “ePragati aims focuses on achieving a unified and connected government with citizen-centricity at its core. The implementation will lead to free-flow of information among departments, paving the way for an integrated, outcome-driven and accountable government,” CM Naidu said.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Business> Business – Others / by Sreeenivas Janyala, Hyderabad / September 06th, 2015
A view of the Amaravathi Road from Seethanagaram in Guntur district | Express Photo
Hyderabad :
The Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to name its capital city as Amaravathi has turned the spotlight on the ancient town, bringing in a wave of nostalgia and hope post-bifurcation of the undivided state last year.
The move will also rekindle unity among Andhras, feel observers.
Amaravathi, which means the town that lives forever, was the seat of power of Satavahana rulers and the name has been chosen in view of its historical, spiritual and mythological significance, says Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
A meeting of the state cabinet, chaired by him last week, passed a resolution in this regard.
Highlighting the glorious past of Amaravathi, Advisor (Communications) to Andhra Pradesh government Parakala Prabhakar said the government would like to build a futuristic city.
“With the capital being named Amaravathi, we look back at our glorious past and move ahead. Post-bifurcation, this holds out hope for the future and promotion of unity among Andhras,” he told PTI.
Tracing the history of Amaravathi, M Somasekhara Rao, a retired history lecturer at Hindu College in Guntur, said, “It is highly appropriate to name the new capital as Amaravathi in view of its significance. It is a good decision. It will rekindle the unity of Andhras,” he said, adding that the name of the city may strike a chord in the South East Asian countries where Buddhism is prevalent.
The state government has “pooled” about 33,000 acres of land from farmers and other land owners in the Vijayawada- Guntur region for raising the modern city of international standards, albeit a “people’s capital” that is convenient for poor as well.
Amaravathi had seen three religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism – flourishing in the region, Rao, a former General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh History Congress, said.
The name Amaravathi may have come from ‘Aramavati’ (house for ‘aramas’ or monasteries), he said.
Though the naming of the city as Amaravathi has largely been welcomed, the gigantic task of developing the capital stares at the TDP government led by Naidu as the state is now faced with a fiscal deficit of Rs 17,500 crore after losing the crown jewel of Hyderabad to Telangana in bifurcation.
Naidu, who was once the poster boy of IT and reforms in the country, has big dreams for developing the new capital as a world-class city.
The Singapore government is preparing the master plan for the capital for free.
The plan has three components – overall capital region, capital city and seed capital, Naidu had said.
The Singapore government submitted a report on capital region during Naidu’s visit to the city state on March 31, the capital city master plan details would be submitted by May 15 and that on seed capital would be given by June.
The government’s decision to name the capital as Amaravathi has largely been welcomed by all, though Opposition parties hold different views on the issue.
Main opposition YSR Congress had organised protests against allegedly forcible acquisition of land, though it is not opposed to its location.
YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy had earlier visited the villages in the proposed capital region and voiced opposition of farmers to part with their lands.
A group of retired officials, who had visited the region, expressed concern over multi-cropped land being taken for building the capital.
According to LSN Prasad, Reader in Economics in the Hindu College in Guntur, the Amaravathi region has been fertile and witnessed robust agriculture activity with the availability of river water.
Observing that multiple crops, including rice and a wide variety of horticulture crops like carrot, are grown in the region, he, however, felt that future generations may lose out on the crops.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by PTI / April 05th, 2015
A Sensory Park at Kurnool, Braille printing press at Guntur and Regional Centre for Rehabilitation of Physically Challenged in Nellore district are among the facilities the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will set up in Andhra Pradesh.
This was announced by Union Minster for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot here on Saturday.
The State Government had agreed to allot land for the Regional Centre for Rehabilitation of Physically Challenged.
Eleven districts in the State would have District Disability Rehabilitation Centres.
“At the Sensory Park the arrangements are such that the visually challenged, hearing impaired and physically challenged would sense the flowers, colours, etc. of a park,” the Union Minster said.
Zonal Sports Complex
For the multi-crore Zonal Sports Complex sanctioned to the city, the State Government would have to allot land, he said.
Asked on the necessity for increasing accommodation for girl students, particularly on Andhra University campus, the Union Minister said that funds would be released for providing facilities to the SCs, OBCs, physically challenged and other eligible sections.
The university should, however, make a representation to the Ministry.
The Ministry would also provide funds for providing lifts, ramps and toilets at public utility places such as hospitals and bus stations for making them accessible to physically challenged persons.
The Collectorate and District Courts Complex here were sanctioned lift and ramps.
The budget allocation for the Ministry was Rs. 6,500 crore under social justice wing and Rs. 565 crore for physically challenged rehabilitation section.
Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu lauded the Ministry for brining out a compendium of its schemes and programmes for people to understand what it was doing and what help they could get.
Mr. Gehlot said the Indian team had won 33 medals at the Asian Para Olympics held in South Korea recently. India beat Pakistan in the final of World Cup cricket tournament for the blind.
International para sports meet
The Government was planning to host an international para sports meet by spending Rs. 20 crore, he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – February 15th, 2015
The fire services department will be Andhra Pradesh’s first department to move out of Hyderabad. The newly-built complex of the AP fire services will be inaugurated by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu here on Friday.
The new fire services headquarters has been built near the police control room in the city. Although the complex was initially designed to locate regional offices, it was later decided to make it the headquarters of the fire department after the bifurcation of the state. The new complex will house nearly 50 officials of various cadres, from director-general of fire services to field officers. The complex also has space for parking six fire-fighting vehicles.
Fire services DG Nanduri Sambasiva Rao said the work on the complex was completed in a record six months time. The DG, along with district collector M Raghunandan Rao and DCP Taqseer Iqbal visited the complex and inspected the arrangements for the CM’s visit late on Thursday night. Naidu will visit the Ungutur assembly constituency in West Godavari district in the morning and will reach Vijayawada by evening.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / December 12th, 2014
The Indian Navy has finally got a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the AP government to set up a diversionary airfield at Badangi near Bobbili in Vizianagaram that houses a World War II airstrip, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) chief vice Admiral Satish Soni said here on Wednesday.
The historic Badangi airstrip, which was used by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War to move its troops across the region, will now house the Indian Navy’s fighter aircraft fleet and will also be used for training pilots on the new aircraft being acquired by the Navy. Sources said the cost of developing a naval fighter plane base at Badangi might cost around Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore.
Speaking to media persons onboard INS Shivalik on Wednesday on the eve of Navy Day, the ENC chief said that following the state government’s approval, the proposal for acquisition of Badangi airstrip has now been sent to the Naval Headquarters at New Delhi.
Pointing out that the Navy wants the project to be put on fast track, he said the Navy would forward the proposal to the defence ministry and from there it would go to the ministry of finance. “With the induction of advanced aircraft like P8I and MIG 29K, pilots need more intensive training, which is why Badangi has been identified as the base for fighter aircraft and pilot training,” he said.
The airstrip, constructed during World War II by Mackenzie Company over 221 acres, was one of the biggest RAF bases in British India and had a control tower, separate underground armament depot and many underground bunkers, besides staff quarters and a natural pond for fire fighting. All those structures were demolished except the runway. In those days, the RAF squadron at Badangi housed supermarine Spitfire fighters, Hawker Hurricane fighters, Avro Lancaster Bombers, B-57 Canberra reconnaissance and transport aircraft. After it was shut down in 1946 after the war, Food Corporation of India used it for some time to store paddy and wheat.
Today a chunk of the 221 acres is encroached by farmers, the Indian Navy needs a total of around 1,000 acres to set up its base, Soni said, pointing out that they may go for a 4,000-4,500 ft runway to cater to their needs. He said some kind of compensation would be worked out for the farmers currently cultivating nuts, paddy, and sugarcane at the airstrip site.
On the Naval Alternate Operations Base (NAOB) at Rambilli in Visakhapatnam district, the ENC chief said it would be completed in 2018 with some works already having started and others in progress. Talking about losses suffered by ENC due to Cyclone Hudhud, Soni said Rs 200 crore had been sanctioned for restoration works, which would be taken up one by one.
The ENC chief said the International Fleet Review (IFR) to be conducted from February 3 to 9, 2016, in Vizag would see 100 ships and delegates of 79 navies of various countries participate and would be reviewed by the Indian President.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / December 04th, 2014
In what could be music to the ears of the Chandrababu Naidu government, a study has concluded that the Chintalapudi area in the Godavari valley contains more than 3,000 million tonnes of coal reserves. If harnessed effectively, it can turn Andhra Pradesh into a major player in the power and allied sectors. An upbeat TDP government is now getting ready to seek clearance from the Union coal ministry to start mining as early as possible.
The study, conducted by geologist Omprakash S Sarate of the Lucknow-based Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany, was published in the Journal of the Paleontological Society of India in December 2013. The study team, after touring Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari districts, found that high quality coal reserves are available from Somavaram in Krishna district to Rajamundry in East Godavari district within 500 meters of depth.
“We became aware of the study last month and wrote to the Union coal ministry two weeks ago seeking immediate clearance for mining in the Chintalapudi area,” AP government sources told TOI.
The government is, as expected, overjoyed as coal plays a vital role in the economic development of any region. It not only provides a cheap source of electricity production, but also creates employment opportunity for thousands of people. It also plays an essential role in the chemical, cement, fertilizer, ceramic and steel industries.
The coal demand in Andhra Pradesh is expected to increase several fold within the next five to 10 years due to the ongoing and proposed coal-based power projects. At present, the industries dependent on coal buy the supply from Singareni Collieries at a premium rate. Once the Chintalapudi mines are harnessed, the increased availability of coal will reduce the prices and trigger economic development, feel AP officials.
The study had compared the quality of coal at Chintalapudi with that of Ramagundam and Talcher, saying that the Godavari valley region’s “coal grade and its calorific value is higher than what is available in the Singareni mines.”
The study had also found that the reserves extend to Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari districts with most of the quality coal concentrated between Aswaraopet, Chinthalapudi and Jangareddy Gudem. While Aswaraopet is located in Khammam district of Telangana, Chinthalapudi and Jangareddy Gudem fall in West Godavari district. The Chatrai mandal in Krishna district and Rajahmundry in East Goadavari were also identified as having massive coal reserves.
“We have brought this to the notice of the Union coal ministry and want the assistance of the Geological Survey of India to figure out the exact locations to carry out explorations. After getting the nod from the Centre, we would take up exploration by acquiring land in these villages,” said a senior official overseeing the matter.
According to sources, AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has asked the mining department to prepare a clear roadmap to take up the exploration as early as possible. With more than 3,000 million tonnes of coal reserves within its reach, the AP government is confident that its economic development will take place at a pace faster than anticipated earlier.
We have brought this to the notice of the Union coal ministry and want the assistance of the Geological Survey of India to figure out the exact locations to carry out explorations. After getting the nod from the Centre, we would take up exploration by acquiring land in these villages: Senior official.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / TNN / October 10th, 2014
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who was on a “capital building mission” to the island nation of Singapore from November 12 to 14, announced that the master plan for the 35,000 acre new capital to be built on the banks of the Krishna river near Guntur will be prepared by the Singapore government itself.
“They have not formally okayed our proposal yet as it has to be ratified by the Cabinet. Once the master plan is prepared then the AP government will announce its time bound action plan for the construction of the capital city,” Naidu told reporters at his residence here on Sunday.
Naidu said that his government also offered Singapore to build 2,400 mw power stations near Krishnapatnam which will have forward linkages with special economic zones in which the AP government will also have stake through special purpose vehicles.
“I met 200 business entities in Singapore and explained them that AP is ready to provide them excellent business opportunities in the public-private partnership mode,” Naidu said adding that building a capital on the lines of Singapore was his poll time promise.
Allaying fears about farmers of the two mandals in Guntur district rejecting the government’s land pooling proposal, Naidu said that pooling is the best way out compared to land acquisition as farmers will have no stake in the fruits of development after the capital is built.
“I will try to meet farmers from Tuesday and convince them,” Naidu said. He blamed opposition parties for instilling fear in villagers. Naidu is also visiting Japan from November 23 for a week to explore possibilities to get assistance to build smart cities in the state including that of the new capital city.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National / DHNS – Hyderabad , November 16th, 2014
Asserts that farmers will greatly benefit by parting with their land
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday defined the boundaries for the state’s new capital on the Krishna Riverfront in Guntur district and sought to allay the fears of farmers whose land falls in the area.
With the common capital of Hyderabad set to go to Telangana in ten years, Naidu held a meeting with members of his Cabinet subcommittee at his Banajara Hills residence to discuss land acquisition for the construction of Andhra Pradesh’s new capital.
The chief minister addressed a press conference later, where he asserted that villages that fall under the boundaries of the future capital will benefit greatly by volunteering their land.
“I will see to it that farmers who part with their land for the construction of this world class capital benefit in many ways,” Naidu said, and added that opposition partiers were misguiding people.
Putting and end to speculation by defining the boundaries, he said: “The new capital will extend 10.5 km from Guntur Autonagar in the east to Prakasam barrage, from Borupalem in the west to Prakasam barrage and in the south from Autonagar Y Junction to the 75 km Ring road, covering almost 16 kilometers.”
The chief minister also promised that he would stop unscrupulous realtors from cheating farmers in the villages around the Mangalagiri and Tullur mandals, which form the core of the capital.
The cabinet subcommittee, comprising Municipal Minister P Narayana, Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao, Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao and Tadikonda MLA Shravan Kumar, will begin their tour to the two mandals on Tuesday.
They will explain to farmers the mode of land acquisition and try to convince those in five villages, including Venkatayapalem and Rayapudi on the river front, who have decided not to contribute, to part with their land for the development of the capital.
For each acre of their land, farmers of these five villages are demanding 1,200 square yards of residential land, 200 square yards in the commercial zone and employment for one eligible person.
Other demands were complete liquidity and legal sanctity in transfer documents, alternative sources of revenue for temples in case of endowment land, higher price for land near highways and village-wise meetings before a final decision is taken.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National / DHNS – Hyderabad, November 09th, 2014
June 8 every year is to be the Formation Day of the state of residuary Andhra Pradesh. The N Chandrababu Naidu government had taken a decision to this effect and the same will be formalized in the next few days or at the cabinet meeting slated to be held on October 30.
Telangana is celebrating its Formation Day on June 2. Although the Appointed Date for the formation of the two states as per the AP Reorganization Act was June 2, 2014, the TDP government has chosen to declare June 8 as the Formation Day on the grounds that it was on that day that a popular government headed by Chandrababu Naidu took over the reins of the state.
With this, November 1, which was celebrated as AP Formation Day so far, will lose its relevance.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / TNN / October 25th, 2014
Draft map of proposed Vijayawada Outer Ring Road . Photo: By Arrangement.
The Government of India has in principle agreed to include the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) covering Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali Agglomeration under the National Highway Development Project Phase VII.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways however said the inclusion of the 180-km ORR project is subject to condition that the Andhra Pradesh Government “agrees to provide land (Right of Way) free of encumbrances for the construction of the ORR” on the lines of the one at Hyderabad.
In an office memorandum, the Chief Engineer S.S. Nahar recalled the representation made by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu seeking sanction of Rs.19,700 crore required for the project.
The Chief Engineer in the office memo to the Prime Minister’s office referring to the request for “external connectivity infrastructure around the newly proposed capital city of Vijayawada” said that the eight-lane ORR with two-lane service roads round the VGT Agglomeration could be “considered” under NHDP Phase – VII.
A copy of the office memo was sent with a draft map to A.P.Government secretary for Transport and R&B Sam Bob.
The ORR in the draft map passes close to Guntur, Gudivada, Hanuman Junction, Mylavaram, Kanchikacherala and Tenali.
Infobox
ORR fundas
A.P. Government has to provide land for the construction
Naidu seeks sanction of Rs.19,700 crore required for the project.
ORR passes close to Guntur, Gudivada, Hanuman Junction, Mylavaram, Kanchikacherala and Tenali.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by G. Venkataramana Rao / Vijayawada, October 27th, 2014
