AP Secretariat shift to new capital uncertain

The approach roads are kutcha , full of mud and dust. As one passes through makeshift colonies of workers, big cranes and six blocks of buildings under construction catch one’s attention.

Welcome to the new Secretariat of Andhra Pradesh being built at Velagapudi, about 30 km from the city.

Hazy picture Two years after the State was bifurcated to create Telangana, things still look hazy and uncertain as the administration virtually got ‘bifurcated’ between Hyderabad and Vijayawada, where Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been staying for almost a year.

But the heads of 33 departments of the government, along with the supporting staff, still operate from Hyderabad.

There have been claims that the Secretariat here would be functional from June 27, 2016. But, a visit to the construction site belies the claim. The shifting seems almost impossible. There are only bare pillars and slabs for a couple of blocks while foundation work is still on for some others.

“I have been engaged in construction work for over three decades and can’t think of completing even one block within six months from now,” M Narasa Rao, a work supervisor, told  Business Line . According to Subba Reddy, another supervisor, at the most five to 10 rooms can be completed without wiring and cable works.

Functionaries of contractors Shapporji & Polonji and L&T are tight-lipped on the likely date of completion. “You are seeing it yourself. Can’t you guess?” one of them countered.

Employees disappointed There has been a change in perception about relocation among the Secretariat and other government employees who were earlier amenable to leaving Hyderabad.

“A group of us visited the place and found it highly unsuitable to work as there is nothing other than semblance of buildings out there,” said Narmada, an assistant section officer at the Secretariat.

According to Ashok Babu, President, AP NGO Association, there is no clarity on the relocation of the departments and the facilities available to employees.

Murali Krishna, President, AP Secretariat Employees Association, said employees could not be blamed for any delay as their demand for clear guidelines on the Secretariat shift has not been heeded by the government for many months.

While all employees are aware of the need to move to the new capital, it should be done as per a plan with minimal inconvenience to employees, he said. There are about 18,000 employees to be relocated.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, however, is keen on relocation. After two visits to Velagapudi in the last 15 days, he claimed that the new buildings would be ready within the deadline and said the staff had no option but to come to the new capital.

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