Andhra Pradesh to hold Republic Day parade in Visakhapatnam port

Gearing up to shift its administrative base soon, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday (January 11) decided to conduct its Republic Day parade in the port city of Visakhapatnam on January 26. News reports suggest the decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Accordingly, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has been informed of the decision while the Visakhapatnam district administration has been asked to make necessary arrangements for the ceremonial event. The Republic Day parade will be conducted on the Ramakrishna Beach in the self-styled City of Destiny, official sources said.

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Focus has been on Visakhapatnam ever since the chief minister hinted last month that it could soon become the “executive capital” of the state. It is expected that all government offices, including the state secretariat, will be shifted to Visakhapatnam before the first half of this year.

After the state bifurcation in June 2014, the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government conducted Independence Day and Republic Day functions in different towns and cities, though over the last two years Vijayawada, part of the capital region Amaravati, remained the venue for ceremonial events.

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Meanwhile, amid the over the state capital, a special session of the state legislature is scheduled to be held in Amaravati from January 20 to 22. The report of a High-Powered Committee will be taken up for discussion during the three-day session before the YSRC government takes a formal decision on the new capital for the state.

(With inputs from agencies)