Guessing game over development continues

Visakhapatnam: THE guessing game is on over shifting of Chief Minister's Office (camp office) and upgrading offices of some departments in Visakhapatnam as part of forming executive capital.

The frequent visit of several top level officials and the exercises undertaken by them to identify some buildings to locate their offices has gained currency to speculation that the shifting of seat of power from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam will take place in May.

The establishment of executive capital is expected to be a low-key event due to court cases. The spacious Rushikonda Beach Resorts now under control of AP Tourism Development Corporation will be shifted to General Administration Department, a senior official told Bizz Buzz seeking anonymity. Another probable place will be a BPO building in the heart of the city as the company is scaling down its operations here, to house the Secretariat.

The Circuit House which has sea view may house Governor's Bungalow. Key departments maybe located in vacant buildings or those under construction in and around Rushikonda. Rushikonda is the new IT hub in-the-making. Millennium Tower-two is ready for occupation whereas the first tower is occupied by American IT firm Conduent.

The layout developed for IT City at Kapulauppada, sources said, is expected to house key departments permanently.

A senior official of a board told on condition of anonymity that they were ready to relocate once the government gives green signal. He said the employees have already been told to be prepared to admit their wards in Visakhapatnam from ensuing academic year.

Meanwhile, real estate prices have gone up due to the capital talk over past one year. The pandemic notwithstanding, the prices appreciated a lot after the announcement on formation of three capitals by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, said CREDAI Visakhapatnam chapter chairman P Koteswara Rao.

YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader V Vijayasai Reddy during GVMC election campaign repeatedly said a vote for their party would strengthen the efforts to develop Visakhapatnam as the executive capital. The ruling party put up spectacular show in GVMC elections held after a gap of 14 years.

Despite hectic speculation, there is no official confirmation on shifting of CMO or formation of executive capital in the city due to court cases filed by Amaravati farmers challenging the decision taken by the YSRCP Government.