The Rs 450-crore Rushikonda Palace in Vizag has sparked controversy after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described it as a "criminal waste" of money. The opulent building is equipped with expensive amenities, including Rs 36 lakh bathtubs and Rs 16 lakh commodes with autowash features, raising questions about its necessity. Amid the debate, suggestions have emerged to repurpose the palace as a US Visa Application Centre, as many students from Telugu-speaking states, particularly Andhra Pradesh, are heading to the US for education.

US Consul General Rebekah Drame has mentioned that the US is considering setting up a Visa Application Centre either in Vizag or Vijayawada to cater to the large number of students from these regions, which make up about 52% of US-bound students. Netizens have weighed in, with some proposing Rushikonda Palace as a suitable location for the centre, particularly for students from North Andhra, the twin Godavari districts, and Odisha. Others have suggested Amaravati due to its central location, while existing centres in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are already serving other regions.

Despite these discussions, the article underscores the ongoing issue of brain drain, with many students and professionals leaving Andhra Pradesh in search of better opportunities abroad. The debate on the Rushikonda Palace underscores a larger concern about the state's high unemployment rate and the need for the government to create local job opportunities to stem the flow of talent to foreign countries.