Bifurcation of AP: Present secretariat to house 2 governments, CMs

Two councils of ministers along with secretaries and supporting staff to function from divided portions of existing secretariat

The governments of the two states will share the existing secretariat and Assembly premises. In other words, they would operate out of the same location in Hyderabad city that is going to be designated as a common capital for Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh from June 2.

A proposal to this effect was endorsed by Governor ESL Narashimhan at a meeting held on Thursday with the officers committee, which was constituted for identifying the physical infrastructure required to run separate governments.

According to sources, the present secretariat complex will be divided between the two governments. Accordingly, the two chief ministers and the two councils of ministers along with their secretaries and supporting staff will function from the divided portions of the existing secretariat.  

Suggestions like providing an alternative location such as the MCR HRD campus here for Andhra secretariat was doing the rounds in the past though the present Assembly building was considered for running the houses of both the legislative Assemblies.

The officials are understood to have made a detailed proposal on dividing the secretariat buildings between the two governments apart from making similar suggestions for the office buildings of the heads of departments located in various parts of the city.

The Roads & Buildings department has also sought Governor’s nod for other details like where to locate the second Cabinet hall for taking up suitable modifications from next month.The existing government guest houses, ministers’ and MLA quarters will also be shared between the two governments, sources said.

The proposal to locate the two secretariats at the same location is expected to avoid a lot of rejig in terms of logistics and public transportation for carrying employees, security detail and traffic management in respect of VIP movement.