The News Minute | January 13, 2015 | 9:05 am ISTSingapore has appointed two firms - Surbana International Consultants and Jurong International - to prepare a master-plan of the new capital of Andhra Pradesh in Vijayawada-Guntur region, it was announced in Hyderabad on Monday.S. Iswaran, minister in the Singapore prime minister's office, made the announcement at a joint news conference with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.Iswaran, who is also the city state's second minister for home affairs, trade and industry, said pursuant to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Andhra Pradesh government last month, the two companies were appointed by the International Enterprise Singapore, a government agency.The two Singapore firms will draw up a capital region plan for 7,325 km area, a capital city master plan for 125 km of the core of the capital city and a detailed seed development master plan for the construction of the approximately eight sq km first section of the capital city.Naidu said the stage-I for the capital region will be completed by mid-February and stage-II covering a focused area by April end. Under the stage-III, a master plan and a detailed action plan for eight sq km will be completed by first week of June. "From there onwards we can go for construction of the capital city," he said.The chief minister, who also held a meeting with a delegation from Japan here on Monday, said the government of Japan has come forward not just to help build the state capital but also for industrialization and development of infrastructure.Naidu said the ideas of Japan will be integrated in the detailed master plan for 8 sq. km. area so that it paves way for investment by Japanese firms keen to be partners in development of the state capital.He said the first review meeting after signing MoU with Singapore was another milestone. He promised that new state capital will be a world-class and smart city and it will be designed in a way to attract investments from companies around the globe.Stating that it will be a people's capital, Naidu said farmers had voluntarily come forward to give 3,900 acres of land under the land pooling system.He said the Singapore would use their international experience in building new cities and the best practices to prepare master plan for not just the capital city but also the economic activity, wealth generation and employment opportunities.The state government shared information with the Singapore delegation with regard to the available social infrastructure and natural resources.With IANSTweetFollow @thenewsminute