This Article is From Jun 07, 2015

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Vows to Build World-Class Capital City

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Vows to Build World-Class Capital City

File Photo: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday promised to build a vibrant and world-class capital city as he performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the new seat of Government near here, a year after the state was bifurcated.

Mr Naidu performed the 'Bhoomi Puja' (ground-breaking ceremony) for building the state capital at a village near the banks of river Krishna.

The TDP leader once again found fault with the way the entire bifurcation issue was handled.

"The state bifurcation was done without a rationale. It was a division that was done for selfish gains and not in any public interest. I had worked hard to develop Hyderabad as a great city (during his previous stint as CM).

"It is now an opportunity (to build a grand new city), though it is a crisis in reality (not having own capital city). If we can see an opportunity even in a crisis, we can achieve anything in the world," Mr Naidu said.

He was addressing a public meeting after the 'Bhoomi Puja' at Mandadam village for the capital city, named Amaravati, located on the banks of Krishna in the Vijayawda- Guntur region.

"Some people mocked at me. But, I said the capital I am going to build is not just an administrative capital. We are talking about Singapore today. Singapore people said your Amaravati would be better than even Singapore. I felt happy," the Chief Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited for the grand foundation laying ceremony to be held on Vijaya Dasami in October, said Mr Naidu, whose party is in alliance with BJP.

Noting that the site chosen for developing the state capital is endowed with vast water resources, he said the proposed city would emerge as a hub of economic activity, education and tourism.

The capital, for which the Singapore Government has prepared master plans, would have wide road networks and be connected to ports through waterways, he said.

He recalled Modi, during his election campaign, had spoken about helping Andhra in developing a grand capital.

Showering praise on farmers and local residents who handed over their land for building the capital city as part of the state Government's "land pooling" policy, he said promises made to them will be fulfilled.

The farm labourers in the region would be imparted skill development to make them employable, he said.

Mr Naidu criticised the previous UPA Government for dividing Andhra Pradesh without clarifying where the residuary state's capital should be located.

The site of the capital city was chosen in view of its central location in new Andhra Pradesh and connectivity, the Chief Minister said.

"To create trouble (for the project), some gentlemen said you locate it in forests and some gentlemen said you locate it in remote place," Mr Naidu said, apparently referring to different voices that emanated over the mega plan.

Mr Naidu, accompanied by his wife Bhuvaneswari, performed the ceremony which comprised several rituals since the early hours of Saturday. He also ploughed the land on the occasion.

Union Ministers Ashok Gajapati Raju, Nirmala Sitharaman, Y S Chowdary, Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker K Sivaprasad Rao and a number of state Ministers, MLAs and other officials were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Sitharaman, Union Minister of State for Commerce, said the Centre would provide funds to the State for construction of the capital city.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress took objection to the way its leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy was invited for the event, which the main Opposition party said, was reduced to a "domestic affair" by the ruling TDP. It said Reddy was invited to the ceremony at the last minute through a messenger.

"The way the TDP Government invited Leader of Opposition Jaganmohan Reddy to the 'Bhoomi Puja' of the capital city at the last minute through a messenger is a matter which attracts the provisions of breach of privileges," YSR Congress said.

"It (the ceremony) was a historic and important event in the annals of the State. The involvement of all sections in an event of such a magnitude is mandatory on part of the State Government and TDP reducing it to a domestic affair is highly objectionable," YSRCP Deputy Floor leader Jyothula Nehru said.
 
.