Communications Advisor to State government Parakala Prabhakar holding a review meeting of capital design committee at CRDA office in Vijayawada on Wednesday

Vijayawada: Designs of the capital city should reflect Indian culture, tradition, architecture and history, said Parakala Prabhakar, Communications Advisor to the State government, here on Wednesday. He held a meeting with members of Capital Designs Committee on Culture and History and with experts from various fields at the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) office here.

Art director Ananda Sai, who worked for several Telugu films, also attended the meeting. British architecture firm, Norman and Foster, is providing designs for construction of capital city Amaravati. Parakala Prabhakar told the experts, “The government is expecting good designs from you as the new capital city will remain for thousands of years in the history,” he said.

According to sources, the experts have to submit designs on nine thematic cities, 27 townships and prominent administration and other buildings. The State government is contemplating to build gateways on seven main roads which will enter into new capital city from various regions, including Rayalaseema, Uttarandhra and other States.  

It is also thinking that design of the gateways should reflect monuments of specified regions, including North India. The experts will design for seven thematic cities, 27 townships reflecting the historical structures, including Sathavahana, Chola, Ikshwakulu, pre and post Buddhist era between 2000 BC and 1000 AD.

The experts will also suggest names for thematic cities, townships, roads, gateways and some other prominent buildings too. It is learnt that the State government is contemplating to promote ancient Hindu culture and traditions in the designs as the Union government also insisting that Indian architectural style should be followed rather than promoting Buddhist architecture style which was suggested by Chandrababu Naidu for the last two years.

Parakala told the experts that Norman and Foster architecture firm will submit its three draft designs for new capital city by the end of February or by March 8. The State government will select the best designs among them.