9/19/2014

VGTM region the best bet - The Hindu

Cities Vijayawada
Published: March 1, 2014 13:04 IST | Updated: March 1, 2014 13:04 IST

VGTM region the best bet

Staff Reporter
Rajadhani Sadhana Samithi drums up support on capital location

A group of intellectuals, senior citizens, and peoples representatives began an earnest bid to persuade the Centre to set
up the capital region for the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh here on Friday.
A meeting convened by former MP Yelamanchili Sivaji, under the aegis of the Rajadhani Sadhana Samithi, set the ball
rolling for a sustained campaign to drum up support to set up the capital within Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali, and
Mangalagiri.
This is a once in a life time opportunity to develop the coastal region. I urge all people, cutting across parties, to
participate in the all- round development of the region, Dr. Sivaji said.
Director of School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada, N. Sridharan, explained through a PowerPoint
presentation the strategic advantages the region had in terms of geographical location, rail and road connectivity,
market, availability of water, green belt, and educational, health, and service facilities.
Mr. Sridharan also shared his experiences in designing modern capital regions of Gandhinagar, Chandigarh, and Naya
Raipur.
Naya Raipur, with an area of 95.22 square km, is being billed as a role model for building a green field capital region in
Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
Modern capital regions are built on branding and marketing, decentralisation of functions, mega projects, and spatial
compatibility, Mr. Sridharan said.
A sectoral analysis of agricultural yield in the areas of Guntur and Krishna districts revealed that the yield of paddy and
sugarcane had been equal to Punjab and eastern Uttar Pradesh, having the highest production of paddy and sugarcane
respectively, he said.
In terms of industrial development and bank deposits, Visakhapatnam leads, but that had been largely due to
investments from the public sector. Vijayawada and Guntur come close.
The urban region of VGTM is now 1,721 sq km with ample land for further expansion, he said, saying that a scientific
study was now under way to study the region.
A Geographical Information Survey-enabled study also reveals that the region is located at the centre of the region,
he said.
Dr. Sivaji said that the VGTM region was connected to all major towns and cities in South India. The availability of
abundant groundwater, two railway divisions, medical colleges, teaching hospitals, and universities makes it an ideal
place.
Earlier, director of NRI Medical College, K. Vasudeva Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of Krishna University M.K. Durga
Prasad, Venkateswara Swamy Devasthanam Trust Board president Ch. Mastanayya, secretary Gummadi Radhakrishna
Murthy, and professor in National Institute of Advanced Studies Carol Upadhyay spoke.
Keywords: Andhra Pradesh bifurcation, Andhra State capital, VGTM region, Rajadhani Sadhana
Samithi, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali, Mangalagiri
Printable version | Sep 19, 2014 10:53:25 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/vgtm-region-thebest-bet/article5739706.ece
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