Foundation stone laid for Andhra Secretariat Complex in Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid foundation stone for the State Secretariat Complex in this upcoming state capital.

The launch of the work on the Complex at Rayapudi village in Guntur district on the banks of river Krishna comes four-and-half years after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu said the foundation stone for the Complex, which comprises five towers, marked a major milestone in the development of the state capital.

He thanked the farmers for parting with 33,000 acres of land under the land pooling process for developing the State capital.

Naidu said the whole world was looking at Andhra as the Secretariat Complex would be a jewel in the crown.

Coming up on a 41-acre site, the Complex is expected amongst largest such constructions in the country featuring 50 storeys and built-up area of 6.9 million square feet.

The Complex, housing the seat of governance, can accommodate 145 departments, over 16,000 employees and 10,000 visitors.

Four towers will have 40 floors each, while the fifth will have 50 floors and will also house the Chief Minister's Office and General Administration Department.

The Complex, to be built at a cost of Rs 4,890 crore, will also have 1.3 million square feet parking facility for 4,000 cars.

According to officials, Foster Partners have provided the master design for the Complex. Construction major Shapoorji Pallonji are executing the construction work.

The Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA) and the Amaravati Development Corporation (ADC) will oversee the work.

Currently, the State Secretariat is functioning from an interim complex built at Velagapudi village in capital region Amaravati in 2016.

--IANS

ms/nir