Amid protests on Monday, the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government withdrew a bill aimed at establishing three state capitals. It proposed Amaravati as its legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as its executive seat and Kurnool as its judicial headquarters. It was argued, this would decentralize the administration and help the people, although the plan ran into bad weather as many farmers who had given land for Amaravati as the state’s sole capital went to court.
Hyderabad is to serve as the capital of Telangana, which was carved out of AP as a separate state in 2014. It is not clear whether the AP government intends to introduce an amended tri-capital bill, which is legally fit to be passed. But for now, the idea seems to have been pulled back. While a physical separation of three different authorities can reduce the scope of mutual turf-encroachment and provide better results, online connectivity limits its upside. On the other hand, three capitals may prove impractical for citizens who need to interface with multiple branches of governance. The set-up cost will also be higher than it looks. Governments should be less cautious about decisions that have an impact far beyond their tenure.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
,