File Photo: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will now brief the state assembly on where he plans to locate the state's new capital city only on Thursday. Sources say Mr Naidu is keen on locating the capital between Vijayawada and Guntur districts.
His plan to make the announcement today was reportedly shelved in a last-minute change as he was advised that it is not an "auspicious day." Thursday is Dashami, seen as more auspicious and the chief minister is clearly not taking chances with the stars.
In the Assembly on Thursday, he is expected to overrule the recommendation of a central panel that surveyed the state to help it pick a capital. Andhra Pradesh will share IT city Hyderabad as a capital with Telangana - carved out of it three months ago - for the next 10 years.
The Central committee has not recommended any particular city or area for the capital. But it has suggested that locating a capital near Mangalgiri, which is between Guntur and Vijaywada and was the venue for Mr Naidu's grand swearing-in ceremony on June 8, is not a good idea as land acquisition will be expensive there.
Sources said that at a marathon cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss the committee's report, Mr Naidu made it clear that he is not bound to act on its recommendations.
The chief minister is said to favour that area on the coastal belt and envisages a posh centrally-located city with four-lane roads running to important centres around the state.
Mr Naidu has promised the state a capital better than Hyderabad. The cost of building that could be an estimated 5 lakh crore rupees. The state has sought Rs 5,000 crore initially from the Centre, but raising money is expected to be a big challenge.