As per the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the Centre might grant ₹1400 crores to Vizag. It is known that the YSRCP government too had sought Centre’s assistance to make Vizag an economic hub and the sum would be used to develop roads, carry out works related to the underground drainage system and drinking water supply. Also, with no mention of Amaravati in the Budget and no grants announced, it seems the Centre too is backing the move to make the Steel City as the Executive Capital of AP.
Is the Centre ready for three capitals in AP?
It is known that the AP Government has already requested the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the shifting of AP High Court to Kurnool, as the ruling YSRCP proposed a three-capital plan towards de-centralisation of administration. As per the plan, Visakhapatnam would be the Executive Capital, Amaravati would be the Legislative Capital and Kurnool would be the Judiciary Capital. The same has been announced officially by the AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the Legislative Assembly. Since then, around 93 cases have been filed in the AP High Court opposing the shifting of capital from Amravati. Also, the hearing related to the case is being held on a daily basis.
Even the AP Government is waiting keenly for a verdict in the case. On the other hand, the Jagan government is busy making all arrangements to shift the capital to Vizag as soon as the verdict is delivered. Already, a guest house worth ₹116 crores is being built on an immediate basis in the City of Destiny. On the other hand, the YSRCP supremo is hell-bent on moving the administration to Vizag as soon as possible, as the issue may proceed further once the matter is taken to the Supreme Court. Hence, the YSRCP leaders believe that the state government would immediately carry out the capital shifting on a war footing following the AP High Court order.
Centre signalling the same
As per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, the Centre is bound to grant financial assistance to the residual state of AP to build a new capital, as Hyderabad would remain the capital of Telangana. Now, with not even a pie was given to Amaravati, the Centre following the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission might grant a sum of ₹1400 crores to Visakhapatnam towards the development of urban infrastructure. Now the twist is that the recommendations of the Finance Commission is not for this budget, but for the upcoming two budgets in the future. This means the Centre has recognised Vizag as the Executive Capital. Even the AP Government is busy trying to get the required funds from the Centre.
It is known that the AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah eight times during his visits to Delhi last year. However, no interest was shown by the CM to meet the Union Finance Minister. This led to several speculations among netizens as to why the CM was busy meeting the Union Home Minister rather than the Finance Minister regarding grant of funds to the state.
