Vijaywada: Seemandhra could script its own success story by creating an IT hub and a global city, building from scratch. This is what entrepreneurs from Seemandhra, who have had a role in Hyderabad’s success story, say.
Captains of industry, realtors and business tycoons held a meeting in Vijayawada in central Andhra Pradesh on Saturday to chart the road ahead.
“We can make a city like Hyderabad in some years with same or better infrastructure. The advantage is that it could be among the most well-planned cities in India,” says Pattabhirama, member of the Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce.
Choosing a capital for Seemandhra, which will now form the residuary state, however is not going to be an easy task. While Guntur and Vijayawada, clubbed together, is a frontrunner, others like Ongole, Vizag in eastern Andhra Pradesh, and Kurnool in Rayalaseema are also likely to be tough contenders.
“We should be given the special status tag for 10 instead of five years,” adds Pattabhirama, referring to the Special Category Status.
 “Vizag could be the industrial hub, there can be government offices in Rayalaseema, High Court could be in Ongole, Vijayawada can be the financial and commercial capital… We don’t want to go through the same again so development should be across the region,” says Ramana Rao, President of CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Development Association of India).