Soil, water from Andhra sprinkled over Amaravati

The soil and water was brought from 16,000 villages of the state

A day before laying the foundation stone for Andhra Pradesh capital Amaravati, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday sprinkled soil and water brought from all over the state.

Flying in a helicopter, the chief minister sprinkled soil and water over the area where the capital city is to be built.

The soil and water brought from 16,000 villages of the state and from holy places of all the religions were mixed and sprinkled in a symbol of collective participation in what is described as "people's capital".

Amid the chanting of Vedic hymns by a priest in the chopper, Naidu threw soil and water towards the ground.

"Honoured to create an emotional bond with Amaravati through soil, water from 16,000 villages ManaNeeruManaMatti," tweeted Naidu.

Naidu also made an aerial survey of Uddandarayunipalem village in Guntur district, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the capital on Thursday.

The chief minister was accompanied by Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana.

Naidu later told reporters that the capital was being built in tune with people's aspirations.

The chief minister said the first phase of the capital would be completed by 2018.