VIJAYAWADA: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Amaravati on May 2 to relaunch construction of the capital city, dissenting voices are growing louder, questioning the necessity of his physical presence and the associated public expense.
“He already laid the foundation stone nine years ago, for which the State government spent nearly Rs 500 crore of taxpayers’ money,” claimed Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) vice-president and Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samithi convener Kolanakonda Shivaji.
“Now again, the government is mobilising lakhs of people during a heatwave. Is this extravagance needed just to restart a long-delayed project the Centre has ignored for almost a decade?” he questioned.
Speaking to TNIE, Shivaji recalled Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Amaravati, during which he brought a pot of soil and water but allegedly failed to follow through on his promise to build a world-class capital. “He said it would be better than Delhi, but Amaravati was never mentioned in any budget or forum after that.”
Complete all arrangements by April 29, officials told
Chief Secretary K Vijayanand outlined the Prime Minister’s tentative itinerary, stating that Modi will land at Gannavaram Airport at 3 pm and reach the Secretariat by helicopter. From there, he will proceed to the public meeting venue via a roadshow.
Nodal officer G Veerapandian said the PM will travel 1.2 km by road from the helipad to the venue, with plans to give him a grand welcome.
Officials have been instructed to complete all arrangements by April 29, with a rehearsal planned for April 30.
The Special Protection Group (SPG) will conduct its own rehearsal in view of the Prime Minister visit afterwards.