PM lays foundation stone for Andhra capital Amaravati

History was made in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone for new state capital Amaravati near here.

Amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests, Modi along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu performed 'puja' and the associated rituals to formally lay the foundation stone of what is being promised a 'world-class' and 'people's capital'.

Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, Assam and Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Acharya, central ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Nirmala Sitaraman, Y.S. Chowdary and Bandaru Dattatreya also participated in the rituals.

Japan's State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Yosuke Takagi and Singapore's Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran also participated in the ceremony watched by thousands of people.

The prime minister unveiled a pylon. He flew into Uddandarayunipalem in Guntur district in a helicopter from Gannavarm Airport in Vijayawada, where he arrived by a special aircraft from New Delhi.

Naidu and central ministers received Modi at the airport. Modi was greeted by Naidu'ss wife Bhuvaneswari, son N. Lokesh and daughter-in-law Brahmani when he reached the venue.

The prime minister went around Amaravati Pavilion, a special exhibition arranged to highlight the glorious dynasty of Amaravati and the plans to develop the world-class capital.