Hyderabad: Planning the Andhra Pradesh capital may receive a big blow, with Indian architects deciding to challenge the utilisation of services of Singapore designers. They say this is in violation of the Architects Act, which prohibits any unregistered foreign architect.

The Naidu government has roped in the Singapore government with a team of designers and architects for designing the capital at Tullur of Guntur district. Noted Chennai-based architect Durganand Balsavar said, “Firms or architects have to be registered with the apex body in the country, the Council of Architecture. Foreign countries with which India has reciprocal registration will be allowed. We do not have one with Singapore. So they are not eligible.”

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Mr Balsavar said some foreign companies were practicing architecture in India by changing names as design companies. “RSP India Design Consultants, an associate company of RSP Singapore, is not using the word ‘architect’. There are already four to five cases going on in various courts against foreign architects practicing here illegally. We are going to challenge the Andhra Pradesh government appointing Singapore architects, which is illegal,” Mr Balsavar said.

Experts said that the Delhi HC had ruled that the approval granted to the architects was not in line with the law.