Amaravati will be focal point for Andhra’s progress and prosperity, says PM Modi

“We will first begin with the roads. Amaravati is a very attractive place. If we work with discipline, maintain law and order, adopt good work culture, it will help us reach the goal of making a great capital city with ease,” the CM said.

Read: Everything you need to know about Amaravati, the People’s Capital

HIGHLIGHTS

2:02 pm: Prime Minister has concluded his speech.

2:00 pm: The Centre will ensure that every paradigm in the state reorganisation act will be followed in letter and spirit. My government will ensure that Andhra gets everything that it deserves: PM Modi

1:57 pm: When I heard that soil and water were being brought from different places, I too brought soil from the Parliament compound and water from the Yamuna river: PM Modi

1:52 pm: When Atal ji was prime minister, three states were created. But there was not a drop of blood. There was amity and peace: PM Modi

1:51 pm: I’m sure, Andhra will lead an economic revolution: PM Modi

1:48 pm: Andhra and Telangana may be two states, but the spirit is Telugu. Let these two states outperform each other in a bid for development and raise India’s image: PM Modi

1:44 pm: I hope that Amaravati will be a model for innovative urban development technologies: PM Modi

1:43 pm: I congratulate Chandrababu Naidu for the fast pace of progress for the construction of this proposed city: PM Modi

1:40 pm: Amaravati is going to be the focal point of the development and progress of Andhra Pradesh. I congratulate the state government and the people here: PM Modi

1:35 pm: PM Modi is now addressing the gathering.

12:45 pm: And there you have it. PM Modi has laid the foundation stone of the new capital city.

PM Modi laying the foundation stone of the new capital city Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh (Screengrab from YouTube)

12:36 pm: PM Modi is now around the ceremonial fire.

12:31 pm: PM Modi observing the designs of the proposed city.

12:29 pm: The Prime Minister has arrived. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhara Rao and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu are accompanying him.

LIVE from Amaravati: PM Narendra Modi accompanied by CM Chandrababu Naidu at the site

12:21 pm: A convoy carrying the dignitaries makes its way to the site.

12:16 pm: People have arrived in huge numbers at the site.

People at the foundation stone-laying ceremony in Andhra Pradesh (Screengrab from YouTube)

12:12 pm: Military helicopters are now descending at the site indicating the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

12:02 pm: With techno-savvy CM Chandrababu Naidu in the seat, technology cannot be far away from this celebration. The event is being streamed live and popular hashtags are erupting on platforms like Twitter in support of the new capital city.

The government had also started a social media campaign for the initiative with the hashtag #ManaAmaravati-ManaRajadhani. Read the story here.

11:51 am: Okay, moving away from the performances at the ceremony, there have been a lot of queries as to why Amaravati was chosen as the capital city when there were already established cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. Read why Amaravati was chosen in this wonderful explainer by Sreenivas Janyala.

11:48 am: Ok now its a ‘jugalbandi’ with Kerala’s talented keyboard player Stephen Devassy joining in too. Popular Tamil song ‘Chinna Chinna aasai’ being performed now.

Keyboard player Stephen Devassy at the event (Screengrab from YouTube)

11:45 am: Famed percussionist Sivamani is performing at the event. Check it out!

Percussionist Sivamani at the event (Screengrab from YouTube)

11:07 am: Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh can be seen in the thick of things at the event, talking to people and ensuring everything goes on smoothly.

11:00 am: Want to watch live proceedings from the event? Here’s the link.

10:55 am: The master plan of the city was prepared with the help of the Singapore government which has expertise in urban planning. To read more about the vision of Amaravati and its amenities, click here.

10:50 am: Did you know that water and soil from religious holy sites were gathered for the foundation stone laying ceremony? Read the story here.

10:45 am: After the rather smooth land-pooling procedure adopted by the Andhra government for building its capital city Amaravati, the Centre is considering the model for adoption.

Watch Express journalists break down the basics of that model.

10:35 am: School children are waiting for cultural programmes to begin at the venue.

10:30 am: Thousands of people have already started to descend upon the venue.