Modi lays stone for Andhra's new capital Amaravati

UDDANDARAYUNIPALEM (Guntur): Extending his warm greetings to Telugu people on Dasara, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Andhra Pradesh has entered a new chapter with the birth of Amaravati on Vijaya Dasami day on Thursday. He laid the foundation stone for the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh between 12.36-12.43 pm in this sleepy village amid Vedic chantings of priests.
Modi said the Centre will see to it that the AP State Reorganisation Act will be implemented in letter and spirit.Assuring AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of all help, he said: "My government will ensure that Andhra gets everything that it deserves."
Though he did not announce the much-awaited special finance package on the lines of Bihar package for AP or granting special category status, the PM said he brought soil and water from the national capital. "When I heard that soil and water were being brought from various parts of the country for Amaravati, I too brought soil from the parliament compound and water from river Yamuna," he said.
Laying stress on urban development, he said his government is marching towards setting up 100 smart cities with world standards and extend all modern facilities to the people. "I hope that Amaravati will be a model for innovative urban development technologies," he said.
Applauding Naidu, the PM said it was no mean achievement to make plans for Amaravati in a short span of 16 months. "I congratulate Chandrababu Naidu for the fast pace of progress for the construction of this people's capital city," Modi said. The PM stressed that Amaravati will be the focal point of development and progress of Andhra Pradesh.
On the ongoing tensions between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, he said during Atal Behari Vajpayee's time as Prime Minister, three states were formed. "There was not a drop of blood. There was amity and peace." He said some forces were trying to incite emotions between AP and Telangana. " Andhra and Telangana may be two states, but the soul is Telugu. Let these two states outperform each other and raise India's image," he observed. He went on to say, "I know the pain of people losing their lives on either side of the divided state and I know it is the handiwork of the last government in bringing this pain."
He said people of Andhra Pradesh working all over the world can come back to their native state and take part in the start-up movement. "In the coming days Andhra Pradesh will lead an economic revolution. A country which has 80 crore of youth can reach top of the world. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana should be complementary to each and benefit from that," he said.
Earlier, Naidu pleaded for handholding from the Centre to build the new capital. He insisted that Modi grant special finance package to raise Amaravati. "We are celebrating two festivals on Thursday. Apart from Dasara, Amaravati foundation ceremony is a big festival," he said.
He added: "We will build a capital that will meet people's aspirations." He profusely thanked farmers for parting with 33,000 acres of land for the new capital.