Capital matters: Ongole getting all set for a bull run

With the chances of the Centre going back on bifurcation of the state becoming bleak, the focus is shifting to the location of the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The demand of public representatives from Rayalaseema to grant them at least the new capital is likely to complicate matters in the coming days.

The Congress high command's lack of clarity on where the new capital would be located has given scope for another tussle between the remaining two regions, Andhra and Rayalaseema. Though the Congress working committee allowed Hyderabad to remain as joint capital for 10 years, it also made it clear that Andhra Pradesh has to build its own capital and vacate Hyderabad.

Also, the demand for allocation of special fund for construction and development of infrastructure in the capital is likely to intensify trouble. According to sources, the Centre would appoint an experts' committee to study the advantages and disadvantages of various locations for setting up the new capital.

The committee is likely to be headed by former bureaucrats and experts in subjects such as irrigation, transport, etc. Though Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Kurnool seem to be the front-runners to grab the capital city status, Ongole is likely to be the biggest gainer from all these developments, observed experts. "Ongole is centrally located for both Rayalaseema and coastal regions and is sure to become the growth engine in the coming years even if the capital city is located elsewhere," observed local granite exporter B Seshagiri Rao of Sri Vigneswara Granites. Thanks to the availability of huge extent of uncultivable land, land acquisition could be a smoother affair for setting up of industries. The connectivity with six-lane national highway, Chennai-Howrah main railway line is an added advantage for Ongole.

"In fact, Ongole fits the bill to become the capital provided the state government laid focus on the drinking water scarcity in the town and surrounding areas," said former legislator K Adenna. Although, the district missed the opportunity to host the biggest port after Chittoor MP Chinta Mohan virtually took the port to Dugarajapatnam in Nellore, the Centre had recently granted national investment and manufacturing zone (Nimz) to be located at Ramayapatnam.

The state government had earlier acquired nearly 3,000 acres in Ramayapatnam for setting up a port and the same land could be used for Nimz. Sources indicated that Japan, China, Germany, the UK and Russia were keen to invest in Nimz which would be developed into exclusive pollution free industrial zones. District is already blessed with huge reserves of export quality black galaxy granite and slates.

Once the ongoing Veligonda project in Krishna basin is completed, the parched lands of Markapuram division too would be put on fast lane of development. In addition, the district is one of the major tobacco growing areas and presence of facilities like Nimz would help set up new threshing plants.

Plans were also afoot to construct a no-frills airport near Kothapatnam which would benefit the district greatly. Land rates have already begun shooting skywards as locals believe the bifurcation would only help in the all-round development of the district.

SOURCE:

TOI