The adage ‘Learn from the past and live in the present’ aptly applies to Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city, Amaravati, a living example of people’s undying and unyielding desire to have a capital that stands atop. The revival of Amaravathi as the capital of Andhra Pradesh is nothing but a resurgence of hope for more than five crore people of the state, who have been denied a viable alternative to Hyderabad that they lost due to the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh.
Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has relaunched the construction of the capital city and has promised everything from infrastructure to technology to make it a grand modern city. It is a mingling of experience and expertise, and an apt mix of administrative calibre and a deeper understanding of the socio-economic needs of the people.
The capital cities of Indian states have evolved based on circumstances and the growing needs of the people and available infrastructure. Ensuring job opportunities has been one of the main factors in the development of capital cities, and the percolation of industries has helped them to become vibrant cities, catering to the needs of every section of the population. New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Calcutta developed over time and have achieved their unique stature, statuses, and economic vibrancy, employment potency.
Coming to Amaravati, the added advantage and value addition for it is that it is endowed with an experienced leadership that has closely seen the evolution of many Indian capital cities and the wide availability of technological expertise that was not available when the cities were in the making. All the experience, expertise, and zeal to excel will make Amaravathi a capital city for the future in every aspect, from Artificial Intelligence to Agricultural expertise, and from the percolation of industries to an industrious workforce.
As it is called, the people’s capital, the wider involvement of people in every turn of its development will ensure its indispensability in terms of meeting the needs of industries, catering to the necessities of different socio-economic aspirations of people, and widening employment opportunities. Residing in a built-in city is different from building a city for lakhs of people to live. It needs the mobilisation of lakhs of acres of land for constructing buildings for offices and providing infrastructure to attract industries. As desire-driven Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who is heading NDA coalition government, is leaving no stone unturned to realise his dream city, Amaravathi. Since Mr Naidu knows how a modern capital city should be and what kind of facilities it should have, he is moulding the city in such a way that it lacks in none and provides for everything. The capital symbolises the status of a state; Amaravathi is expected to be a grand modern city of India as vibrant as the ones that are endowed with everything. It should be a castle of harmony that lasts long and fulfills the longings of people for generations together, and stands as a symbol of togetherness.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
