Visakhapatnam to be Andhra Pradesh's new capital: CM Jagan Reddy
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday announced that Visakhapatnam would be the new capital of the state. His announcement reportedly came at the International Diplomatic Alliance Meet in Delhi. The Reddy-led government has previously planned to build three capitals for Andhra Pradesh: Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital, and Amaravati as the legislative capital.
Experience ease of doing business in our state: Reddy
Reddy's announcement came while inviting delegates of the Delhi meeting to the upcoming Global Investors' Summit in Visakhapatnam. On Twitter, he wrote, "I invite you to our beautiful state for the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit to be held on the 3rd & 4th of March in Visakhapatnam." "Experience the ease of doing business in our state and partake in our vibrant culture."
Take a look at what Jagan Reddy posted
I invite you to our beautiful state for the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit to be held on the 3rd 4th of March in Visakhapatnam.
— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) January 31, 2023
Experience the ease of doing business in our state and partake in our vibrant culture.
Welcome! #APGlS2023 #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/i2WmrvpgV8
Reddy government's pitch for 3 capitals in 2020
To recall, in 2014, Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh, and Hyderabad was named the new state's capital. Later, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party government announced Amaravati as Andhra's capital in 2015. In 2020, however, the Reddy government notified three capitals, namely Kurnool, Amaravati, and Visakhapatnam, through a law but that was reportedly withdrawn later, and Amaravati remained the official capital.
AP High Court rules Reddy government can't make such law
Reddy's latest announcement suggested his government would go ahead with its previous plan of having three state capitals. Interestingly, the Andhra Pradesh High Court in March 2022 ruled the state government cannot create a law to remove Amaravati as the capital or change it to one of the three capitals as it had no "legislative competence." Following this, the government approached the Supreme Court.
Controversy surrounding Amaravati
Amaravati has been in the spotlight over an alleged land scam, for which Reddy's Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has called for a probe against former CM Naidu. Reddy's government has claimed that certain individuals were informed in advance regarding the location of the new capital, and they bought land there in 2014 to benefit from the imminent real estate boom, reported NDTV.
CM's Office, other offices to be moved to Visakhapatnam
According to Free Press Journal, Andhra Pradesh's State Legislature Complex will remain in Velagapudi of the Guntur district, and the region will now be known as the legislative capital. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and several other important governmental offices will now be moved from Amaravati (the existing capital) to Visakhapatnam (the executive capital).
Some key facts about Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, popularly also known as Vizag, is Andhra Pradesh's biggest and most populous city. After Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai, this coastal city is the second biggest on the country's east coast.
