Cities in Race for Seemandhra Capital

Soon after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 was passed by either house and left with only a formal part of President of India’s approval to carve the 29th state of India, Telangana, noe speculations waver around that few optional places to be the would be capital of the residual Andhra Pradesh. Of the many possibilities, the following six are the most befitting options to be the capital of succeeding state. The advantages and setbacks in selecting a particular place with analysis are appended below:

Seemandhra Capital(Andhra Pradesh): Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Kurnool, Ongole, Tirupati, Rajahmundry?

Option I - Area in between Guntur – Vijayawada: Most experts opine that the area in between Guntur and Vijayawada turns to be the most suitable choice for the new capital of residual Andhra Pradesh. This region is well connected via road, rail and air. It has an excellent domestic airport, which can be further developed to bring it to the standard of an international airport. As the area is located in the vicinity of Krishna River, there will not be any water problem to serve the needs of the people in its new capital. But, the acquiring of lands turns to be a major constraint, as the area is already owned by many people; and also most of the lands in this region are fertile lands.

Option II - Visakhapatnam: The main advantage of this city is that the city is located on the banks of Bay of Bengal. It is the second biggest city of existing Andhra Pradesh. Most of the prestigious companies like Visakha steel already exist in this city. So development will not take much time, if Visakha is chosen as the new capital of residual Andhra Pradesh. But the only constraint is the acquiring of land. Also, provision of water may turn to be another blow, if Viskha is chosen as the new capital.

Option III - Kurnool: It was the capital of Andhra state, before the merger. Known as gateway to Rayalaseema, it is one of the most populated cities of Andhra Pradesh. It is well connected by rail and road. Even this place is well connected with Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. It has the advantage of calming down the emotions of Rayalaseema people. This place is not connected by air and may experience water problem.

Option IV - Ongole: It has the main advantage of acquiring lands, very easily. It has a better road, rail and air connectivity and even has a nearby sea way, making it feasible for imports and exports. Even this place is likely face water problem, if chosen as the new capital of residual Andhra Pradesh.

Option V - Tirupati: Most prominently known as land of lord Venkateswara, Tirupati turns to be one more alternative for establishing Seemandhra capital. It can be one of the right choices, as already water problem has been sorted out at this place. It will fetch add-on revenue once it gets the status of the state capital.

Option VI - Rajahmundry: On the banks of Godavari, this place turns to be one of the finest choices, to be the capital of Andhra Pradesh, after the bifurcation. But the only constraint is the land acquisition.