Guntur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented soil from an anthill in the Parliament premises and water from the Yamuna at the Amaravati foundation stone laying ceremony, and said this was a symbolic gesture to demonstrate that the Centre stood with AP. Mr Modi tried to reach out to the people by speaking a couple of words in Telugu.
He cited Nenu Saitham of the renowned poet Sri Sri and said: Nenu saitham praja rajadhani ki samarpistunnanu. Earlier, Mr Modi started his speech in Telugu with the words Sodara Sodarimanulara (brothers and sisters) and said, Anadariki Vijayadasami Subhakankshalu (Vijayadasami wishes to all).
Mr Modi explained that he wanted to be a part of Amaravati and had brought Putta Mannu (anthill soil) from the temple of democracy, Parliament, and holy water from the Yamuna.
He emotionally said that the country's capital had merged with the state capital with the mixing of the soil and water from Delhi. He said Amaravati would be green and modern.
Capital project to cost $21.4billion
Singapore’s leading newspaper The Straits Times revealed that the actual construction of government buildings is scheduled to start only next year. It said the building infrastructure in the capital city project could cost about one trillion rupees that is equivalent to US $21.4 billion.
