PM Narendra Modi to lay foundation stone of Andhra Pradesh's new capital city Amaravati tomorrow

AMARAVATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Andhra Pradesh's capital city Amaravati at a village in Guntur district tomorrow, in a mega event for which the state government has made elaborate arrangements.

About four to five lakh people are expected to attend the function to be held at Uddandarayunipalem village on the banks of river Krishna, Parakala Prabhakar, Advisor (Communications) to the state government, told PTI.

The Prime Minister would spend about 90 minutes at the event during which he will perform the 'shila nyas' for the capital city, about 40 kms from Vijayawada, the commercial capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Modi is expected to be shown a presentation on the 'past, present and future' of Amaravati, a place of immense historical, mythological and cultural significance.

Amaravati, situated in Guntur district, was once the seat of power of Satavahana rulers.

The state government has invited several Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, important political leaders from across the country, eminent personalities, top industrialists and also foreign dignitaries for the event.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has personally invited the Prime Minister, several Union ministers, Governor ESL Narasimhan and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, among others.

Ministers and delegations from Singapore and Japan are also expected to attend the event.

As per a call given by Naidu, soil and water from 16,000 villages in the state and prominent pilgrim centres in the country have been brought to the capital region to be used in the construction of the capital city. The idea is to promote a sense of belongingness among the people.

Singapore government agencies have prepared the master plans for the three-layered capital -- seed capital, capital city and capital region.

While the Centre would provide funds for construction Of legislature buildings as per the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, the state government has plans to set up hubs of sports, entertainment and in other fields to promote economic activity, an official release said earlier.

More than 8,000 police personnel have been deployed as part of security arrangements for the grand event.