AP govt likely to function from new capital soon

The shifting of Andhra Pradesh's Secretariat and administrative machinery from Hyderabad to Amaravati is going on at a brisk pace, as the entire government is likely to function from the new capital city in one or two months, a senior official said today. "The momentum has picked up from 27th of last month (June). Almost about 30-35 per cent of employees have already moved. They are working from there. Others are in the process. "Some have gone and they are making arrangements. Some buildings were taken. Other small modifications etc are going on. I think in the next one-two months, the entire government is going to function from there. A large chunk is already functioning from there," Parakala Prabhakar, Adviser (Communications) to the AP government, said here. Asked about the row over demolition of some temples in Vijayawada as part of a road widening exercise, ahead of 'Pushkaram' of Krishna river, with even the ruling TDP's alliance partner BJP also protesting on the issue, he said there is no problem in the ties between the two parties. The endowments minister (P Manikyala Rao) belongs to BJP and the state government is addressing the issue, he said. BJP is a junior partner in the TDP-led government in AP. To another query, he expressed confidence that the Centre would honour the promises to AP (Seemandhra) during bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh.