Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that the government would start functioning from Visakhapatnam from September this year as part of the state's decentralisation plan for the development of all the regions.
Reddy made the announcement at an event where he laid the foundation stone for the Mulapeta Greenfield Port Project at Naupada in Srikakulam district.
Speaking at the public meeting, Jagan Reddy said, "Visakhapatnam is an acceptable city for everyone in the state. It has the approval of all the people in the state. As part of decentralisation of administration, from this September, your son (Jagan) will set up his family (kapuram) also in Visakhapatnam."
The CM further said that the Srikakulam district would be developed through ports that were earlier neglected for years despite having the potential.
"The Hira Mandal Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation projects, including Budagatlapalem Fishing Harbour in Etcherla Mandal, were also initiated. The face of the Srikakulam district will change in the coming days, and after the completion of Mulapet Port, around 35,000 people will get employment," he said.
"Now, Moolapeta stands as the pillar of development. Srikakulam will be developed and become another Mumbai or Madras in the future," the CM further said.
He also announced the construction of two more fishing harbours along with the port. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for a colony for those displaced due to the port construction at Naupada, a fishing harbour at Budagatlapalem, and Hiramandalam Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation projects.
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Earlier, speaking at the inaugural session of the Global Investors Summit 2023 in Visakhapatnam, Jagan Mohan Reddy had declared that he would shortly move over to Visakhapatnam.
On December 17, 2019, Jagan Mohan Reddy announced in the state Assembly that three state capitals would be developed, reversing the decision of the previous TDP government to develop Amaravati as the state capital.
The YSRCP government mooted Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital, and Amaravati as the legislative capital.
However, the protest by farmers of Amaravati over the shifting of the capital and the High Court order directing the government to develop Amaravati as the state capital had delayed the process.
On March 3, 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the state government to develop Amaravati as the state capital in six months.
A three-judge bench had pronounced the judgment on 75 petitions filed by Amaravati farmers and others challenging the government's move on three capitals.
However, the state government filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. In November last year, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order, saying the court cannot act like a town planner or an engineer.