PM to Signal Re-start of Amaravati Construction

Vijayawada: Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan would jointly accord a grand welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

The visit would mark the formal restart of works of Amaravati as state capital and the launch of development works worth Rs,57,962 crore across sectors.

According to the official schedule, the PM would land at Gannavaram airport at 2:55pm and fly by helicopter to the Velagapudi Secretariat. He would reach there at 3:15pm.

The PM would arrive at the public meeting venue by 3:30pm and participate in the foundation-laying and inaugural events. The programme would last 1.15 hours, after which he would return to Gannavaram at 4:55pm and fly to New Delhi.

Elaborate arrangements are in place for the PM’s visit. Public participation is expected on a large scale.

After nearly a decade of uncertainty surrounding the capital, the PM's presence in Amaravati to relaunch capital construction sends powerful messages of political stability, close Centre-state coordination and a fast-paced governance for the state.

The restart of the works comes as a major relief to nearly 30,000 farmers who contributed over 34,000 acres under the land pooling scheme for capital construction since 2014. Their aspirations, put on hold for several years, are now being revived.

In one of the largest single-day infrastructure announcements for the state, the PM would lay the foundation for or inaugurate 94 projects worth Rs.57,962 crore. These include works on capital city institutions, national highways, railway upgrades and defence-related installations.

During the day, Modi would lay the foundation for 74 projects worth Rs.49,000 crore, involving the construction of the state assembly, secretariat, high court and judicial residential quarters. Foundation stones will be laid for nine central projects worth Rs.5,028 crore, including Rs.1,459 crore DRDO missile testing centre at Nagayalanka, the Rs.100 crore Unity Mall in Visakhapatnam, the Rs.293 crore Guntakal–Mallappa Gate rail overbridge and 6 new NH projects worth Rs.3,176 crore.

The PM would inaugurate eight completed NH stretches, erected at a total cost of Rs.3,680 crore and dedicate three railway projects valued at Rs.254 crore to the nation.

The Naidu-led government is mobilising people from across the state for the PM’s event. Transportation is being provided for them. Officials were mobilising RTC and educational institution buses for this. An estimated 5 lakh people would be thus mobilised.

Some 8000 buses have been arranged for transportation of people from across districts to Amaravati and back. The buses were reaching the respective villages on Thursday night. A government employee will be in charge of each bus. He would arrange them food and drinks and ensure their return to their homes after the event, all at government expense.

An officer is in charge of each mandal who would supervise these. On each bus, two packets including breakfast and lunch would be provided. Along with these, bananas, bottled water, ORS and buttermilk packets will be made available. Dinner too will be provided in the bus by the time the people return from the meeting.

The responsibility of food supply has been entrusted with the civil supplies department in the respective districts.

Officials said extra precautions are being taken due to the high summer heat. Staff will be made available at all health centres and government hospitals to meet any exigencies. Teams of doctors and support staff would be present at the stadium too. If anyone falls ill, the gallery in-charge will coordinate matters to rush them to the nearest hospital.

Marking the Prime Minister's visit, the capital's farmers and farm labourers would organise a huge rally with vehicles. The rally will be held from Tadikonda to Velagapudi, the meeting venue. Some 3,000 vehicles would transport the farmers to the venue.