Andhra Pradesh Secretariat
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| Andhra Pradesh Secretariat | |
|---|---|
 Andhra Pradesh Secretariat at Velagapudi during Independence day 2017 | |
.svg)  Location within Andhra Pradesh  Andhra Pradesh Secretariat (India) | |
| Alternative names | Andhra Pradesh Sachivalayam |
| General information | |
| Location | Velagapudi, India |
| Coordinates | 16°31′35″N 80°30′39″E / 16.526526°N 80.510951°E |
| Construction started | 12 February 2016[1] |
| Inaugurated | 29 June 2016[2] |
| Relocated | 31 July 2020 |
| Owner | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
The Andhra Pradesh Secretariat is the administrative headquarters of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, housing offices critical to state governance. Following the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the state established the Interim Government Complex (IGC) at Velagapudi, operational since October 2016, and the planned Amaravati Government Complex (AGC), designed by Foster and Partners under architect Norman Foster. The IGC serves as a temporary administrative center, while the AGC, part of the Greenfield capital city of Amaravati, is intended as a sustainable complex.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh operates through a structured administrative framework comprising various Secretariat departments. Each department is overseen by a Secretary to the Government, who serves as the administrative head, while overall coordination and supervision lie with the Chief Secretary. These departments are further divided into sub-divisions, directorates, and affiliated bodies such as boards and corporations to effectively implement government policies and deliver public services. As per the official allocation of business, the state currently has 37 departments.[3]
- Agriculture & Co-operation
- Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries
- Backward Classes Welfare
- Chief Minister's Office
- Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies
- Economically Weaker Sections Welfare
- Energy
- Environment and Forests
- Finance
- General Administration
- Health, Medical & Family Welfare
- Home
- Housing
- Human Resources Development (Higher Education)
- Human Resources Development (School Education)
- Industries and Commerce
- Information Technology, Electronics and Communications
- Infrastructure and Investment
- Labour, Factories, Boilers and Insurance Medical Services
- Law
- Legislature
- Municipal Administration and Urban Development
- Minorities Welfare
- Panchayat Raj and Rural Development
- Planning
- Public Enterprises
- Real Time Governance
- Revenue
- Science, Technology and Innovation
- Skill Development and Training
- Social Welfare
- Swarna Gramam and Swarna Wardu
- Transport, Roads and Buildings
- Water Resources
- Tribal Welfare
- Women, Children, Differently Abled and Senior Citizens Welfare
- Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture
Interim Government Complex (IGC)
History
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 designated Hyderabad as a shared capital for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana until June 2024, necessitating an independent administrative base for Andhra Pradesh.[4] In March 2015, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu selected Velagapudi, a village in Guntur district near Vijayawada, as the site for an interim secretariat to enable governance outside Hyderabad.[5] The decision aimed to establish a functional hub until the permanent capital at Amaravati was developed.[6]
Construction and design
The complex occupies 45 acres of former agricultural land in Velagapudi.[7] Shapoorji Pallonji Group was contracted to construct the complex, targeting completion by June 15, 2016, across ten phases with a budget of ₹220 crore (equivalent to ₹316 crore or US$37 million in 2023) in phase 1. Delays extended the operational start to October 3, 2016[8] with a final budget of ₹750.08 crore (equivalent to ₹11 billion or US$130 million in 2023).[9] The complex comprises six two-story buildings (ground plus one). The first block houses the Chief Minister’s Office and a Command and Control Centre for real-time state monitoring, with remaining block occupying other departments.[10] The sixth block was initially allocated for the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Council, though its legislative use was deferred.[11] The foundation, supported by pre-cast pile caps, is engineered to withstand 2,144 tonnes, verified through dynamic pile load tests.[7] The design allocates 27 acres for administrative buildings and 18 acres for public amenities, including parking and utilities.[12] Environmental clearance was granted by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) in April 2016, ensuring compliance with ecological standards.[13]
Operations and challenges
The complex became fully operational on October 3, 2016, with most government departments relocating from Hyderabad.[8] Chief Minister Naidu officially occupied his office on October 11, 2016, during Vijayadashami.[14] A minimal staff remained in Hyderabad to handle ongoing legal matters.[7] U. Muralikrishna, president of AP Secretariat Association says that, over 10,000 people were moved during this transition from Hyderabad to neighbourhoods around Velagapudi.[15]
Construction faced logistical delays, and plans to add two additional floors were abandoned due to staff objections to working amid ongoing construction.[10] In July 2017, rainwater leaks affected the fourth block, prompting a Crime Investigation Department probe after similar issues in the Opposition Leader’s chamber. These incidents raised concerns about construction quality, though the IGC remains the state’s primary administrative hub.[16]
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