Vaastu compliance: AP interim secretariat gets a fifth gate

The interim government complex of Andhra Pradesh government at Velagapudi will soon have a fifth gate as per Vaastu Shahstra.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu who is a staunch believer of Vaastu, is said have okayed change and a portion of the compound wall of the complex behind the fourth block has been demolished to bring in a fifth gate.

“There are four gates but only two are open. CM’s convoy used to enter from gate number one, only recently he started entering the secretariat from second gate,” a secretariat staffer said adding that the entrance was considered auspicious. The second gate which was allocated for entry of visitors was suddenly blocked by the security personnel after Naidu chose to enter from the second gate.

However officials say that the new gate is not meant for Naidu even though an exclusive road for Naidu has been planned so that he could enter into the secretariat from his rented accommodation in Vundavalli via the river embankenment. “The fifth gate is for is for officials and visitors,” an APCRDA (Capital Area Development Authority) officer said.

This is not the first time that the tax payer’s money has been splurged on vaastu compliance in Telugu states. While Telangana Chief Minister stopped working from Secretariat due to Vaastu issues and built a massive Rs 300 cr camp office, Naidu has changed his office twice at the Hyderabad secretariat fearing vaastu dosha. Even after the secretariat was shifted to Velagapudi almost all the minister’s chambers have undergone vaastu changes wasting public money.

“Vaastu helps the leader to work in peace in an ideal atmosphere. There is nothing wrong if the construction is made as per Vaastu,” eminent Vaastu Pandit Danturi Pandarinath said. However principle opposition YSR Congress criticized the Chief Minister for misusing public money in the name of vaastu.