Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today moved into his new office chamber on the first floor of Block-1 at Government's Transitional Headquarters (GTH) in Velagapudi in the capital region, marking the near completion of the translocation of the state administration from Hyderabad to Amaravati.
The Chief Minister now has four offices -- two in Hyderabad, one in Vijayawada and the latest one in Amaravati -- with the state government having spent over Rs 100 crore on them.
Soon after becoming the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, following the bifurcation of the state in June 2014, Chandrababu used to function from Lake View Guest House in Hyderabad which was officially designated as the Chief Minister's Camp Office.
In October 2014, he moved into L-Block in the Secretariat after a plush office was readied.
In June 2015, Chandrababu shifted base to Vijayawada after a new office building was constructed for him.
On April 25, he symbolically occupied his chamber at GTH in Velagapudi, though the temporary Secretariat was still under construction.
He formally stepped into Block-1 at GTH amid vedic chants this morning, but he can start working from there only towards the end of this month as nothing is ready yet.
"As early as possible, probably by this month-end, I have to work from here (Velagapudi) only if everything is ready," the Chief Minister said.
After performing a puja, the Chief Minister signed a file, approving the release of Rs 2,500 crore to women self-help groups under a financial infusion scheme.
He then addressed a press conference and subsequently, reviewed the progress of works related to development of Amaravati.
The CMO Block at GTH is a highly-secured place and the building is said to be able to withstand even a rocket attack.
The CMO is completely bullet-proof and has an intelligent lighting system that functions with the help of sensors for energy efficiency.
Besides the cabinet meeting hall and a conference room, the State Command and Communications Centre is also on the first floor for the Chief Minister to monitor the development works taking place across the state through video links.
The Chief Secretary's chamber is also on the first floor while the General Administration Department which works under the Chief Minister is on the ground floor.
The GTH is slowly coming to life with the Secretariat
staff getting down to work after the initial hiccups, though some of the bureaucrats are yet to move in.
Many IAS officers could not move to GTH yet because their chambers were not fully ready. Some ministers are also yet to occupy their offices there.
It is expected that full-fledged functioning of the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat will begin from the end of this month, four months after the original June deadline.
