Vijayawada: The process of selection of an internationally-reputed architect to design the iconic structures in the seed capital city suffered a setback after the Chandrababu Naidu government scrapped the designs submitted by Maki and Associates of Japan. The chief minister directed the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) to call for fresh tenders to invite better designs before taking up the construction of government complexes in the capital city. This virtually means that the works on the iconic structures will not begin anytime soon.

According to sources, it would take at least 3-4 months to complete the process of selection of architect as the government wants to doubly ensure that the designs are not copied or out of sync with local culture and traditions. The decision to go for global tenders afresh was taken at a high-level meeting held in the chief minister's office in Vijayawada  late on Tuesday night. Interestingly, the CM met representatives of renowned architect firms -- Roger Stirk Harbour and Partners (RSHP of the UK) and Hafeez Contractor -- on Monday. RSHP was one of the three shortlisted designs along with Vasthu Shilpa (India) before the government zeroed in on Maki and Associates in March.

Although the designs submitted by RSHP and Vasthu were considered superior, the government picked up Maki with an eye on enlisting financial support from Japanese agencies like JICA. "After singing paeans in favour of Maki's designs for iconic structures of assembly and High Court as the best in the world for six months, the government has suddenly found them outdated and decided to scrap," sources said.

"The designs submitted by BV Doshi and RSHP are far superior to Maki. However, the government picked up Maki for its own reasons. When it had decided to call off Maki's designs, it should have gone ahead with one of the other architects," said a senior faculty of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Vijayawada, not wanting to be quoted.

Speculation is rife that the government might have taken the decision due to strategic reasons as it is unable to find a suitable financier to fund its infrastructure projects in the capital city which have to be taken up much before the construction of the government complex and other structures.