US Visa Center in AP: Will Rushikonda Palace Be the Spot?

After visiting the Rs 450-crore Rushikonda Palace in Vizag, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu termed it a “criminal waste” of money. He even said that he was still trying to figure out how to use the palatial building, which is equipped with ultra-modern and advanced amenities, such as bathtubs costing a whopping Rs 36 lakh and commodes costing Rs 16 lakh that offer an ‘autowash’ feature for users.

There have been suggestions that the costly structure could be repurposed as a US Visa Application Centre.

US Consul General Rebekah Drame stated that the USA is considering setting up a Visa Application Centre either in Vizag or Vijayawada, as a majority of students at US universities are from Telugu-speaking states, comprising nearly 52% of the total.

Following this revelation, netizens sparked a debate on the most suitable location for the centre.

Some suggested that the Rushikonda building could be used for the Visa Centre, catering to the needs of youth from North Andhra, the twin Godavari districts, and parts of Odisha. They argued that visa centres in Chennai and Bengaluru would serve the south coastal and Rayalaseema regions, while Hyderabad could be a nearby destination for others.

A few others believed that Amaravati would be the most suitable place, as it is centrally located in the state.

Regardless of the discussion, the heavy exodus from the Telugu states to foreign shores reflects the high unemployment rate in these regions.

It is time for the TDP and its allies, who formed the government, to focus on reducing the brain drain from Andhra Pradesh.