It has been two years and more since the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh split and the 29th state of Telangana was formed, leaving the rest as the residual state of Andhra Pradesh. Dashing the hopes of many AP employees thought that they would not have to shift to the new capital city, given that Hyderabad was declared as the common capital for ten years starting June 2014, the AP government has asked all its employees in Hyderabad to report to work at Amaravati by September 19. Political compulsions, it seems, have forced the AP chief minister who has now decided that the AP government should get into place. Naidu himself has already shifted to Velagapudi and a permanent residence for the chief minister, who lived in a well furnished bus and a guest house, is on the cards.
The state government is also sanctioning one week leave as well as a travel advance to all the employees in order to assist their relocation to AP, which can be completed by October 1. While the complete secretariat is still not ready, the government will start functioning from the interim structures at Velagapudi. The state government had planned to shift the administration from Hyderabad by June 2. But the process was delayed for various reasons including the Krishna Pushkaram. Heavy rains also discouraged people from shifting even as it hampered the construction of the interim government building complex. So far, 15 departments have shifted to Velagapudi.
It would seem that almost 7,200 employees are already reporting for work in the capital region, which would lie between Vijayawada and Guntur. Another 5,000 employees will move out of Hyderabad by next week. Those in need of medical assistance- there were 110 such cases on the last count- will be identified by the AP Government.
Meanwhile those working in public sector undertakings and corporations are waiting for the final word from the Sheela Bhide committee which will decide on who will stay in Telangana and who will move to AP.
A couple of officials will also stay back in Hyderabad in order to attend court and tribunal cases.
Read: Naidu turns nostalgic as AP Assembly holds its last session in Hyderabad
