Why Are Thousands Flocking to Amaravati for the Capital Works Re-launch?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Significant turnout: An expected 500,000 people will attend the event.
- Major funding: Projects worth Rs 49,040 crore will be initiated.
- Political support: The TDP-led NDA is committed to resuming the development of Amaravati.
- Festive atmosphere: The event marks a celebratory moment for local farmers and residents.
- Strategic partnerships: Financial support from the World Bank and ADB enhances project viability.
Amaravati, May 2 (NationPress) A multitude of individuals from various regions of Andhra Pradesh have begun to arrive today for the much-anticipated re-launch of the Amaravati state capital works, officiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
People from nearly all districts are converging on the state capital to participate in the public gathering set for Friday evening.
Roads leading to Amaravati are bustling with buses transporting attendees from all Assembly constituencies.
Approximately 500,000 people from across the state are expected to join the public meeting.
A festive spirit envelops the villages in Amaravati, particularly among farmers who contributed 43,000 acres of land for the state capital, as they celebrate the revival of projects after years filled with uncertainty, political strife, and legal battles.
During this grand event, the Prime Minister will lay the groundwork for capital projects valued at Rs 49,040 crore with the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, ministers, and coalition leaders.
The Prime Minister is set to land at Gannavaram Airport, Vijayawada, by 2:55 p.m., where NDA leaders will be waiting to greet him.
He will then travel to Amaravati by helicopter. Governor Abdul Nazeer, the Chief Minister, and the Deputy Chief Minister will welcome him at the helipad near the State Secretariat in Velagapudi at 3:15 p.m.
He is scheduled to arrive at the public meeting venue by 3:30 p.m. and will unveil a monument to officially re-launch the capital projects. These include five towers of the Amaravati Government Complex, the High Court, the Legislative Assembly building, and more.
PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for additional initiatives and inaugurate several projects valued at Rs 8,000 crore related to DRDO, DPIIT, NHAI, and the Railways.
He will spend approximately 75 minutes at the public meeting before returning to Delhi from Gannavaram Airport.
Authorities have prepared extensive arrangements for the public gathering over a span of 250 acres.
On October 22, 2015, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Amaravati.
Some development efforts were initiated by the previous TDP government. However, progress halted after the TDP lost power in 2019, as the YSR Congress Party government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy opted to pursue the development of three state capitals.
This decision faced strong opposition from farmers in 29 villages in Amaravati who had given their lands for the capital's development.
Following the TDP-led NDA's return to power in June last year, Chandrababu Naidu resolved to resume work on this visionary project.
The state government plans to undertake various projects totaling Rs 77,250 crore. Tenders have already been issued for works worth Rs 49,000 crore.
The central government has pledged full support for this initiative. Both the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to provide Rs 15,000 crore in funding, while the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 11,000 crore.