Budget session looms but AP Legislature complex not yet ready

Amaravati: Uncertainty prevails over the conduct of Budget session of Andhra Pradesh Legislature as construction of the temporary Legislature complex has not yet been completed at Velagapudi in the Amaravati capital region.

Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani, Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and his deputy Mandali Buddha Prasad inspected the construction works this afternoon and were informed by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) officials that everything would be ready within 10 days.

The State Government initially planned to conduct the Budget session from March 3 but it may be postponed by a few days since the Legislature complex is not fully ready.

This will be the first session of the AP Legislature in the new capital as the State Government bid adieu to Hyderabad after the monsoon session last year.

The CRDA, tasked with construction of the temporary Legislature complex, originally announced the building would be ready by end of November and later put it off to December.

Even after further delay, Municipal Minister P Narayana said the premises would be ready by February 10 but several works were still going on even now.

"The Budget session will begin in the first week of March. We will notify the date soon," the Speaker told reporters.

He said Legislature staff would start relocating to Amaravati from next week ahead of the session.Arrangements would be made for accommodation of the staff as well as the legislators besides providing transport facility.

Kodela suggested certain changes to be made after inspecting the Ministers' chambers, galleries and peshis (offices) in the new building.

The Speaker reviewed the arrangements with Director General of Police (in charge) N Sambasiva Rao and Political Secretary, General Administration Department, N Srikant and other officials.

The DGP later inspected the vehicle parking facilities and reviewed the security arrangements to be made in view of the Budget session.