Jagan Decides To Shift Key Departments To Vizag

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s decision of having three capitals for the state has received flak from all sections of people and opposition parties. But Jagan is firm on his decision and wants to take further steps on it. The cabinet meeting will be held on January 8 to discuss the shifting of key departments. It has been also reported that all the key departments will be moved to the Millenium Tower on 20^th January.

According to the sources, three sections from JAD, two sections from the Finance Department, and four sections, each from the Home Department and Roads and Buildings, will be shifted to Vizag. "Though the secretariat will be shifted to Vizag soon, it will not be called as a capital," Jagan’s government said. Jagan told his ministers that his decision on the three capitals is not going to change.

"The Secretariat will be shifted. The Legislature will remain here (in Amaravati). The High Court issue will be decided later," a minister said, on the condition of anonymity. On December 17, the Chief Minister told the state assembly that Visakhapatnam could become the state's Executive Capital, Amaravati the Legislative Capital and Kurnool the Judiciary Capital.

Though all opposition parties have strongly opposed Jagan’s idea and demanded that Amaravati should be the sole capital, Jagan said that Amaravati had not been notified as the capital. The former government notified the capital region under the AP Capital Region Development Authority Act. Jagan said, "As per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, Hyderabad remains the joint capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (divided) till June 1, 2024. Notification of APs new capital requires an amendment to the Act and there are other procedural issues involved. So there will be no mention of the capital as of now."