Building a State and its Capital – The curious case of AP

Can AP emerge as another Singapore as was promised?

Ever since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh happened and Telangana was formed, there is suspense on where and how the capital of the residual AP or Seemandhra as it came to be popularly known, would be built. A lot of speculation is in the air that the capital is most likely to come up somewhere in between Guntur and Vijayawada. The land rates which were already high at these places including those in towns like Ongole, Rajahmundry, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam seem to have touched the skies with no one knowing the upper limits.

While only the powers that be may know where exactly the capital of AP would be formed, it is clear that none of the cities mentioned above, except to some extent Visakhapatnam, have the look, feel, infrastructure and attitude that a capital is supposed to have. A preliminary visit to any existing state capitals will make one realize that building a state capital is no child’s play and takes enormous amount of time, patience, commitment, funds and above all a government that works only for progress in a tireless and uncompromising manner.

As part of discharging my official duties, I have visited several state capitals in the last 7 years and it doesn’t require much expertise to say that it would take at least 10 elections, provided each time the elected government remained in power for the full term, to build a state capital that is worth anything. It simply means that the parties that came to power by promising to make a Singapore out of AP will take not less than 50 years and cannot be done just in a five-year period. It is quite really long term plan. 

Keeping aside my personal desire that the capital should be formed in Vijayawada, my home town, the following are the most important requirements that play a critical role in the formation of a state capital  

1.   Assembly

2.   Official residence of CM

3.   Various government department headquarters and offices

4.   High court

5.   A national level Library

6.   National level museum( like Salarjung Museum in Hyderabad)

7.   Facilities for State guests( Political or cultural)

8.   Upkeep of existing monuments and memorials( like Golkonda Fort)

9.   National level stadia

10.                 National level theatres to encourage arts

11.                 Large Industrial estates

12.                 Major Research Institutes

13.                 Shopping facilities of international standards

14.                 Big parks acting as lung spaces for the citizenry

15.                 Proper transportation facilities/modes

16.                 Residential facilities for all classes of the working populace, etc., etc..

The list can go on endlessly but the above mentioned are the most important ones that any state capital worth its position must have for sure.

As much has been talked about Singapore, let us look at a few things that Singapore did ever since it became independent in 1965 that is almost 18 years after India.

Size and population: The area of Singapore is 692 sq.kms and the population as per 2011 estimates is 47 lakhs compared to the area of AP (after split) being 1,60,204 sq.kms with a population of 493 lakhs. Now does that speak something? It speaks of the enormity of not only the size and population but the humongous efforts needed to make AP like Singapore.

Broadly Singapore did the following to become what it is today. And AP government has to emulate them in letter and spirit. It is equally the responsibility of those parties not in power to support in every activity of the government that is aimed at progress of the new state.

1.   Singapore: Done proper city planning and also undertook redevelopment on a vast scale.

AP: Needs to do it immediately wherever the state capital is proposed even if it requires some sacrifices. This means amendments to building FSI rules and also widening of the roads in the city selected as capital.

2.   Singapore: Created public housing for its people.

AP: There is a vast requirement of housing in coastal AP and the government can work on providing the same at affordable pricing especially for the middle class.

3.  Singapore: Opened the doors of trade without any monopolies, duties and other trade restrictions.

AP: Singapore was a city state and so could do anything it wanted. As AP cannot have trade terms in isolation, the state can work on inviting various industrialists to set up shop in comparatively backward districts where there is vast government land available. This ensures equitable job distribution and wealth creation for all districts.

4.   Singapore: Made their country a great tourist destination generating jobs and money.

AP: There are a good number of tourist destinations in coastal AP right from north to the south of the state. Instead of making “Punnami” – APTDC resorts that are mostly exploited by government ‘babus’ as weekend getaways at tax-payers’ cost, they should work on those resorts to be safe and neat to stay with public attractions.

5. Singapore: Invested in its people to build technical, managerial, entrepreneurial and marketing skills.

AP: There are a good number of people from Seemandhra who are highly successful in each of the above skills and settled elsewhere across the globe. An environment that lures them back to their state or that enables them to create world class facilities to develop such skills in the new generation must be created by the AP government.

6.  Singapore: Embraced people across the globe as their own. There was nothing like an insider/outsider or local/non-local. Everyone who contributed to their overall progress was welcome.

AP: Having placed all their eggs in Hyderabad, there is a possibility that such vested interests from the state might create problems to people/companies/traders from other states when they come to establish shop, which should be borne in mind by the government. Efforts must be made to create a business-friendly atmosphere that encourages anyone who wishes to contribute in his own way to growth of the state.

While anything can be done from the outside, the key factors for development should come from within, whether it is an individual or a state. Hence there should be open arm policy of welcoming and embracing the change for growth and progress and it is all in the hands of the leaders as much as with the general public.

Today, Hyderabad is thriving as a capital because it welcomes and attracts people from all walks of life. It is on the way to becoming a truly cosmopolitan city. To build a capital of such a nature requires leaders with commitment and people willing to welcome change and embrace universal-ism.