The arrangements for the event are going on in Visakhapatnam
Independence Day celebrations in Andhra Pradesh this year will be special as the venue of the main function is the scenic Ramakrishna beach road in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
"Probably, this is the first time in the country that the Independence Day is going to be celebrated on a beach road," Parakala Prabhakar, Advisor (Communications) to the state government, told PTI in Hyderabad today.
The Ramakrishna Beach derives its name from Ramakrishna Mission located across the Beach road.
Deprived of a capital city and infrastructure following bifurcation of the state last year, the Andhra Pradesh government had decided to organise the Independence Day event in different cities every year.
Accordingly, it was held at Kurnool in Rayalaseema region last year.
Hyderabad is the common capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a period of 10 years (as per the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act) after which the city would be the capital solely for Telangana.
"We don't have a proper capital. Secondly, we also thought that each year we should hold it in a different place.
This year, we are celebrating in Visakhapatnam. When we have the Ramakrishna beach and the beach road, why should we go for a small stadium leaving such a beautiful location," Mr Prabhakar said.
The highlights of the event would be tableaux, each one reflecting the vision and activities in various government departments, besides cultural events, he said.
The arrangements for the event are going on in Visakhapatnam and the men in uniform have held rehearsals on the beach road for the ceremonial parade.
Senior police and civil officials visited the city as part of arrangements for the celebration which promises to be a grand spectacle.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had unveiled his vision for each district in his customary address at the Independence Day function in Kurnool last year.
The vision was about proposed location of important central institutions and industrial clusters district-wise.
Mr Naidu is expected to talk about certain policy issues this year too.