Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh would be developed as ‘smart cities’.
He also said that Vijayawada, Guntur and Tenali would be provided metro rail services.
Notably, the state government had recently announced that the new capital of Andhra Pradesh would be located “around Vijayawada”.
“As a part of the Centre’s decision to develop 100 smart cities in the country for making urban life comfortable by improving living conditions there, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in AP would get a chance to be developed as smart cities,” Naidu said.
He was participating in a seminar on ‘smart cities’ conducted by the Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry here.
The smart cities would be required to provide round-the-clock drinking water, power, transport and health services at affordable prices to the public, he said.
The development of a smart city needs political will and guts to enforce proper taxation system, implement good governance, weed out corruption and check unauthorised constructions, he said.
He also appealed to the public to pay taxes properly to avail the amenities and services.
The Centre has so far not decided on the places for the smart city project. The state governments have to propose the names for it, he said.
However, the four metros, the capitals of states and major cities and their surrounding areas would be developed as smart cities, he said.
Lok Sabha MP G Ganga Raju and Andhra Chamber of commerce and industry president M Murali Krishna were among others present on the occasion.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / PTI / September 15th, 2014
The government has sent enough feelers that the Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri (VGTM) region on the banks of the Krishna will be a suitable location for capital. / The Hindu
Banks of Krishna river back in news after 2,300 years. Later, the separatist Telugu movement by the legendary Potti Sriramulu and Tenguturi Prakasam Pantulu led to the first Andhra state on linguistic basis with Kurnool as capital in 1953.
Call it coincidence or design, river Krishna is back to some historical significance. Andhras built Amaravati, on its banks, as capital city way back in 3 Century BC and now with the report on Sivaramakrishnan Committee on capital is out, the government has sent enough feelers that the Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri (VGTM) region will be a suitable location for capital.
Incidentally, VGTM, if decided, probably happens to be the 13 capital location of Andhras who had their first capital here centuries ago. Andhras were never at peace as far as the capital city is concerned. As per known history referred in the ancient Sanskrit Indian text Aitareya Brahmana (800 BC), the journey of the Telugu speaking people that began with Assaka Maha-Janapada settlement between Godavari and Manjeera rivers in southern India served as the first capital of Andhras.
The capital was then shifted to Dharanikota (present Amaravati) during 2 century BC to 2 century AD under Satavahana rulers who ruled most of the country from here. It was then shifted by Ikshvaku dynasty to Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda) on the banks of Krishna in the same century. The capital was again shifted to Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu during Pallava rule from 4 to 6 century. Later, it was Kodur, Kapotapuram, Vengi and Vinukonda which served as capital cities during the rule of Bhihatpalayanas, Anandagotrikas, Salankayanas and Vishnukundins.
The seventh capital took shape at Warangal during the rule of Kakatiya and Chola dynasties for a robust 600 years. Then was the golden era of Srikrishnadevaraya’s Vijayanagara empire with Hampi in Karnataka as capital during which period Telugu was regarded as the best of the languages in the country. However, the capital for Andhras was torn between Hampi and Golconda/ Hyderabad followed by Madras Presidency under the British till Independence.
Later, the separatist Telugu movement by the legendary Potti Sriramulu and Tenguturi Prakasam Pantulu led to the first Andhra state on linguistic basis with Kurnool as capital in 1953. Later, the same was merged with Hyderabad after the Nizam dynasty gave in to the Indian government in 1956. While Hyderabad remained as the capital city of Telangana post division of the Andhra Pradesh in February, 2014, the rest of the region which retains the original name is scouting for the capital city.
However, historians opine that selection of VGTM for capital is more of the political convenience than a historical significance. “Historically Andhras or Telugu people had many capitals under several dynasties. The region near Amaravati is just a political decision and no historical perspective to it,” said Professor of History V. Ramakrishna of Hyderabad Central University.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News National> Andhra Pradesh / by Appaji Reddem / Vijayawada – September 03rd, 2014
Vijayawada city, which was declared the state capital, has an history of over 2,000 years, it being a trade centre, logistics hub and an education centre. As per inscriptions of 927-933 of second Yuddamallu, Vijayawada ganed prominence as Rajendracholapuram. The city was known as Bezwada, Hechavada and Vijayavatika and at last came to be called Vijayawada. The city has a great history since Satavahana period.
Chalukyas developed it and constructed Siva, Durgamalleswara and Kartikeya temples. The city is noted for its Buddhist culture too. Vijayawada became famous during Vishnu-kundinis rule. They developed Undavalli, Seetanagaram, Mogalr-ajpuram and Indrakeel-adri caves. An anicut was constructed across Krishna River in 1855 and Prakasam Barrage constructed in 1953.
Vijayawada, though not the district headquarters, emerged as an important junction connecting both North and South India due to its railway junction.With a population of over 10 lakh people, the city is an education hub attracting thousands of students from all over AP, Telangana and other neighbouring states.The city’s most famous landmark is the Kanakadurga temple atop Indrakeeladri, which thousands of devotees visit daily.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by DC Correspondent / September 05th, 2014
The district has been lagging behind in development so far. Tadepalligudem, which is centrally located in the district, hogs the limelight now with the proposed airport, NIT and horticulture research station in its kitty.
The establishment of the State Capital Region (SCR) in its immediate neighbourhood provides a silver lining to West Godavari, which is basically an agrarian district that has been lagging behind in development.
Going by the Chief Minister’s announcement on the Floor of the House on Thursday, the district is expected to get a National Institute of Technology (NIT), Institute of Fine Arts and Commerce, Airport, ceramic industry, Horticulture Research Station, coconut-based coir industries and 100 per cent drip irrigation in oil palm.
An airport is all set to come up on an abandoned airstrip, which was built during World War-II by the British at Tadepalligudem. Forest lands are available for setting up the NIT, the first of its kind in the residuary State, and a horticulture research station adjoining Andhra Pradesh Horticulture University at V.R. Gudem, a stone’s throw away from Tadepalligudem. While ceramic industry has been proposed at Bhimadole, a port will come up at Narsapur.
The Gannavaram airport, proposed to be upgraded into an international airport, is just 35 km away from Eluru city.
Hailing the proposal for a metro connectivity between Guntur and Hanuman Junction via Vijayawada, Aikya Vedika, a forum for the development of Eluru, seeks to extend the connectivity up to Eluru for a stretch of 18 km in the south. “Eluru will be emotionally and physically connected to the SCR only when it is included in the Metro Rail project”, says forum convener and industrialist Brijgopal Lunani.
Tadepalligudem, which is centrally located in the district, hogs the limelight now with the proposed airport, NIT and horticulture research station in its kitty.
Air connectivity with a cargo facility is expected to give a big push to aqua and marine exports from the region. Similarly, a port at Narsapur, with landing facility for mechanised boats and marketing facility for seafood, is likely to bring in a turnaround in the lives of more than 50,000 fishermen from Narsapur and Mogaltur mandals, besides helping them do business without middlemen.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by G. Nagaraja / Eluru – September 06th, 2014
From a glorified village to the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada region has come of age and it is time it changed its profile, according Rajesh Berry, hotelier and vice-president of Hotel DV Manor.
Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, he said the city should prepare to welcome people from all parts of the country with open arms. “More number of corporates will come and more number of professionals will prefer to make the city their second home. It is time the locals changed their attitude and lifestyle,” Mr. Berry says.
However, K. Pattabhi Ram, president of Vijayawada Hotel Owners Association, felt the social life would remain the same as the region was surrounded by villages. “Vijayawada and Guntur, will witness spurt in hospitality sector as several projects are in the pipeline. Though number of star hotels will come up it will take some time for pub and discotheque culture to make its way in the region.”
He said Vijayawada region, unlike Hyderabad, was known for its restrained behaviour and gave more importance to customs and traditions. “Rural background dominates the ethos of the region.”
Race course
The region also yearns for a new race course. “The Hyderabad Race Club tote centre at Yalamanchalli complex is getting many enquiries about the possible new race course. We need at least Rs.100 crore for a full-fledged one. We need to have space for 18 to 24 horses to run in tandem in the circle. Provisions like swimming pool for the horses, veterinary hospital, jockey training centre, administrative block, cash counters, galleries with VIP boxes and cafeteria are a must. Race course maintenance is an expensive affair,” said Phani Babu, tote in-charge.
Golf course
There is also a need have a golf club for an emerging capital city. “With the city expected to attract foreigners and tourists in the days to come, the need go have a golf club is must,” said K.P. Rao, Krishna District Olympic Association. “We need around 100 acres to establish a full-fledged 18-hole course with all facilities,” said G. J. J. Raju, a member of century-old East Point Gold Club at Visakhapatnam.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by J R Sridharaan / Vijayawada – September 05th, 2014
File photo of Government Polytechnic College in Vijayawada
Vijayawada :
With the state government deciding to shift its base to Vijayawada, making it a temporary capital of Andhra Pradesh, an upbeat mood prevailed in the city Tuesday. Though Vijayawada is regarded as the frontrunner in the capital race, in the absence of any official communication from politicians, businessmen have adopted a ‘wait and watch’ policy.
Now that an official announcement has been made by the AP cabinet Tuesday, people from all walks of life were visibly elated. “Vijayawada being announced as the temporary capital will be seen as a giant stride in the process of becoming permanent capital. This will surely give the city a lot of elevation,” expressed RV Subba Rao, a city-based entrepreneur.
With the government offices likely to be shifted to the city soon, all eyes are now on the office space available. Medha IT Park near Gannavaram, Government Polytechnic College, DRDA and DWMA campus at Gollapudi and the newly constructed irrigation office complex, among others may be used to accommodate the offices, to be shifted from Hyderabad. For instance, there is about two lakh square feet of office space available at Medha IT Park, but 20,000 sq ft has already been occupied.
Despite irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao is conducting all the activities from the newly constructed irrigation office in Vijayawada and the chief engineers having shifted their offices here, the new office can house the other departments as well. “Vijayawada has been denied its rightful share for the past six decades. But the announcement of the city as temporary capital will give it at an opportunity to emerge as golden Vijayawada. Even our builders have decided to help the government in shifting the base and are ready to allocate the available office space here to the government offices,” informed Greater Vijayawada Builders Association president Gadde Rajling.
Though it is just a temporary capital, there is a notion prevalent among everyone that this is just a step further in the process of making Vijayawada a permanent capital. With this, even the realty sector is poised to grow. As a result, land, office and residential spaces, which were quite far from common man’s reach in almost all places, will be corrected.
Not just realty and businesses, but all the other sectors are expecting a bright future ahead because of the move. Vijayawada will witness an altogether different growth following the announcement of it becoming the temporary capital, which will go down as an important land mark in the history of city.
“Vijayawada is located centrally and has all facilities like sufficient space, infrastructure, connectivity and water. Selecting the city as a temporary capital will help the denizens from all the 13 districts in finding some sort of work. Though Hyderabad is the common capital for 10 years, there is no way that we stay there for long now that even the IAS officers are being humiliated. In this milieu, shifting the government offices to Vijayawada, by announcing it as temporary capital, will not just send positive signals to the AP public, but also helps the administration machinery to settle in the state and development will take off soon,” Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheshwara Rao exuded confidence.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 13th, 2014
A controversial bill which paves the way for the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh by merging some villages and mandals of Telangana with Seemandhra was approved in the Lok Sabha today, amid stiff opposition from TRS, BJD and some other parties.
As soon as the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill seeking to replace an ordinance, and a statutory resolution disapproving it, was taken up, TRS members trooped into the Well and BJD members stood up in protest.
Over-ruling their objections, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan observed that it was not necessary to have separate discussion on the statutory resolution disapproving the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance that the bill seeks to replace and later on the bill, saying it had been done as per the practice of the House.
Maintaining that the bill was introduced after being referred to the relevant Standing Committee, Mahajan also said that interpretation of the law is the primary responsibility of the court of law.
She said her duty was to conduct the proceedings of the House in a proper manner as she ruled out the objections of members.
Her observations came following a point of order raised by Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy and TRS member B Vinod Kumar insisting that the ordinance itself was “against the spirit of the Constitution”.
The TRS members also contended that the ordinance was unconstitutional as it had been brought about when the separate Telangana state had already been formed. Kumar claimed the President, before issuing the ordinance, had not elicited the views of the state legislature and wanted the government to defer bill.
BJD leader Bhratruhari Mahtab said his party was not against the project itself but “arbitrariness” with which the height of the dam was increased that would inundate 307 adivasi villages in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
He suggested that the project’s design could be altered to ensure that tribals are not affected in any region and said the way things were turning out, there could be no alternative but to approach the courts.
source: http://www.beta.english.manoramonline.com / Manorama Online / Home> News> Nation / by Agencies / Friday – July 11th, 2014
Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC/File)
Vijayawada:
After dividing the police force, the trained sniffer dogs were divided between the two states. Apart from making the sniffer and tracker dogs stationed in each region to stay put, the intelligence security wing dogs were also distributed. According to ISW officials, AP got 10 sniffer dogs while Telangana got eight based on the population.
DSP of dog training academy at Moinabad K. Subrahmanyam said, “The dog squads are divided, but the training academy is the same. We have 40 dogs being trained in our academy and they will be inducted to the police force as per the earlier requests. We already have five attacker dogs of Belgian Malinois with Octopus the anti-terror force.
In the present batch that is undergoing training, we have five more Belgian Malinois being trained.” However, the requirement for sniffer and tracker dogs from the districts has been increasing. In Machilipatnam on Thursday a sniffer dog died and police cremated it with the official salute. “Several dogs have become old and sick. There are deaths reported from the district units regularly,” said an official.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by DC Correspondent / June 29th, 2014
Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad:
Lack of availability of large tracts of land in and around, Vijayawada has put major institutions like the IITs and IIMs in a spot. Vijayawada revenue division, which covers the city and suburbs like Kankipadu, Ibrah-impatnam and rural pockets of Nandigama, Mylavaram. Jaggai-ahpet, has only 12,143 acres of all kinds of government land, that are mostly hillocks.
While the state administration has asked for land for a Central University on about 500 acres, AIIMS on 100 acres and APSP additional battalion, 150 to 200 acres, the authorities do not have a single stretch of land to offer.
The situation is similar in Gudivada revenue division and the only hope for Krishna district is the land in Nuzivid. As the Machilipatnam revenue division is highly prone to floods and not connected to mainstream cities it is unlikely to get the prestigious institutes. The other hope for the capital zone is Mangalgiri area of neighbouring Guntur district.
“The forest, revenue, endowments and Wakf land together account for 12,143 acres. Even land at Jayanthipuram near Jaggaiahpet is a hillock. This land may be allotted to APSP battalion,” a senior revenue official said.
Even for an IIT or an IIM only five spots have been shown in and around Vijayawada. They need 50 acres of land each. “Most of the hillock areas are already quarried. There is serious scarcity of land,” said an official. There is no government land available in the core city of Vijayawada.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Education / DC / by U. Sudhakar Reddy / June 28th, 2014
It is now official. A world class capital for Andhra Pradesh will come up between Vijayawada and Guntur.
According to municipal administration minister P Narayana, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu took up the issue with Union minister for urban development M Venkaiah Naidu when both of them called on him earlier in the day. Narayana said that Naidu wants a city throbbing with life to be the capital city for Andhra Pradesh and feels that the location between Vijayawada and Guntur would be ideal for this purpose.
‘’We are trying to identify land for acquistiion for building the capital city. It would be an all inclusive capital. It would have all the administrative offices, courts and Assembly at one place besides residential colonies for the employees,” Narayana told newsmen. He said at present Naidu was looking at various models for development of capital city.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / Express News Service / June 27th, 2014
