India PM Modi re-launches Amaravati capital works

Amaravati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi re-launched Amaravati development works at a massive public meeting here on Friday, nearly 10 years after he laid the foundation stone for the new Andhra Pradesh capital.

He pressed a button to formally lay foundation stone for 74 projects worth Rs 490 billion in the presence of Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Central and state ministers and leaders of the ruling coalition.

These include the High Court, the Legislative Assembly, the State Secretariat, and four towers of Heads of Departments (HoDs).

Modi also laid the foundation stone for some works and inaugurated some other projects worth Rs 80 billion, including setting up of missile test range, and works related to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Railways.

In his address on the occasion, Chief Minister Naidu vowed to complete the state capital in three years. He told the Prime Minister that he would invite him again for the inauguration.

Naidu recalled that it was Modi who laid the foundation stone for Amaravati.

It was on October 22, 2015, that the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone for Amaravati.

Few development works worth about Rs 80 billion were undertaken by the then TDP government. However, the works came to a halt after TDP lost power in 2019 as the YSR Congress Party government headed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to develop three state capitals.

This faced stiff resistance from farmers of 29 villages in Amaravati who had given their lands for the development of the state capital.

After the TDP-led NDA stormed to power in June last year, Naidu decided to resume work on his dream project.

The state government has decided to take up various works at a cost of Rs 772 billion. Tenders have already been called for works worth Rs 490 billion.

The Centre has assured all support in undertaking the works. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to lend Rs 150 billion. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has approved a loan of Rs 110 billion.