Assembly buildings to be in Kohinoor shape

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has suggested that the Assembly building be built in the shape of a diamond to make public feel that AP has been restored its lost Kohinoor diamond.

Norman Foster and Associates on Wednesday submitted their final designs to the Chief Minister as per recommendations made earlier.

The architect had designed the High Court in the shape of a diamond and the Assembly with the likeness of a Buddhist stupa. Mr Naidu suggested that the designs for the two institutions be interchanged.

The Norman Foster team on Thursday will meet High Court Chief Justice and present him the High Court design. On Friday, it will meet with the Chief Minister again with the suggestions given by the Chief Justice and for further discussions.

According to a press release from the CMO, Mr Naidu opined that the stupa signifies happiness, and justice is the greatest happiness.

The Assembly building, at the centre of the city plan, should be inspired by the historic Kohinoor, which happens to have been mined in the state.

He said the area containing the High Court and the judiciary residency complexes — the Justice City — will be compared to the standards set by London and Hong Kong.

After perusing every detailed master plan of different aspects of the city plan, like environment friendliness, energy infrastructure and the waste disposal system, the Chief Minister gave the final nod.

The architecture firm will meet the ministers in two days to officially commence the execution.

“I am excited that we have reached the final stage. Not only in India, but people all over the world have high expectations of this city. No one has ever built a city of this scale from scratch,” said the Chief Minister, closing the meeting.