The Telugu Desam Party has asked the Centre to immediately constitute a committee of experts to assess the quantum of funds required to develop a new capital city for Andhra Pradesh state subsequent to the formation of Telangana state.
"According to our rough estimates, a staggering Rs 4-5 lakh crore will be required to build a new capital and comprehensively create necessary infrastructure. The new capital should be developed on par with Hyderabad," TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters here today.
Chandrababu placed a set of demands before the Centre to fulfil before completing the formalities related to formation of Telangana state.
"The Centre should provide full monetary support for building the new capital. There are a number of central Public Sector Undertakings, research centres and premier educational institutions in Hyderabad. Similar institutions should be built in (new) Andhra Pradesh so that employment opportunities will be available for people of that region.
"Besides, the Centre should also settle issues related to water-sharing, power, revenue-sharing and jobs. All these things should be incorporated in the State Re-organisation Bill itself so that people across the regions will not be left with heartburn," Chandrababu said.
The experts committee should study all these issues, based on which the Centre should come out with a time-bound action plan and "perfect planning" for the development of a new capital city, he said.
The Union Budget currently was Rs 15 lakh crore and would touch Rs 25 lakh crore in the next ten years. Hence, funding should not be a problem, the former Chief Minister pointed out.
Simultaneously, efforts should be made to attract private investment as well to develop infrastructure and industries to create more jobs, he added.
The TDP supremo said his party respected the "sentiments" of Telangana people and accordingly notified its stand on the state bifurcation issue to the Centre in 2008.
"We always stood by our stand," he observed.
Though the state would be getting divided in "inevitable circumstances", all Telugu people should stay united without any ill-will, Chandrababu said.
"It is the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that Telugus are not left with any heartburn or hatred. It should build confidence among all Telugu people through concrete actions and not mere statements," he said.
On the demand being raised by some of his party leaders that Hyderabad be made the "second capital of India", the TDP president recalled that B R Ambedkar had put forth this suggestion years ago.
"Let's see how things will shape up," he noted.
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