Central team in Seemandhra to locate new Capital

With the conclusion of polling in Seemandhra, the focus has now shifted to finding a capital city for residuary Andhra Pradesh. 

A Centre-appointed expert committee has already begun field visits to study the pros and cons of different locations for the Capital city in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions (collectively known as Seemandhra).

The panel has already visited Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry cities and is expected to visit other places like Vijayawada, Guntur, Kurnool and Tirupati among others.

Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Guntur, Ongole in Coastal Andhra and Kurnool, Tirupati in Rayalaseema are reportedly in reckoning for new capital of the residuary state post division.

Different groups have been voicing demands for making their own city as the capital of the residuary Andhra Pradesh.

A group of activists held a demonstration in Visakhapatnam when the expert committee landed there two days ago.

Former minister T G Venkatesh, who joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ahead of elections, has favoured making Kurnool as the capital. Kurnool was capital of the Andhra state before the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.

Seemandhra borders Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and finding a capital city which is equidistant to all parts of the state and with necessary infrastructure could prove to be a tough task, political observers say.