Naidu invites Japanese PM for Amaravati foundation stone ceremony

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The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind inaugurating the new Hospital Building of SVIMS - Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh on September 01, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu are also seen.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind in a group photograph at the inauguration of new Hospital Building of SVIMS - Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh on September 01, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu are also seen.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind at a civic reception and public meeting at Sri Venkateswara Arts College Ground, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh on September 01, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu are also seen.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind visiting Srivari Temple, Isthikapal Honours, at Mahadwaram, in Andhra Pradesh on September 02, 2017.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind visiting Srivari Temple, Isthikapal Honours, at Mahadwaram, in Andhra Pradesh on September 02, 2017.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind in a group photograph during his visit at Srivari Temple, Isthikapal Honours, at Mahadwaram, in Andhra Pradesh on September 02, 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu are also seen.

Moment to cherish: President Ram Nath Kovind giving away financial assistance to the beneficiaries during the civic reception in Tirupati on Friday. | Photo Credit: ; - K_V_POORNACHANDRA_KUMAR

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ry-leadership-says-kovind/article19605490.ece

State government hosts civic reception to the first citizen
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday called Andhra Pradesh a home to visionary leadership and pioneering entrepreneurship, and as an abode of intellect.

Skill, knowledge, and leadership were the traits of the Telugu land, Mr. Kovind said while recalling the glory of the Telugus from the Satavahanas to Tanguturi Prakasam, and to leaders of the recent past such as N.T. Rama Rao and P.V. Narasimha Rao.

At the civic reception hosted by the government here, the people of Tirupati were privileged to listen to Mr. Kovind. In fact, it was his second public address outside New Delhi after assuming office, the first being at Leh, where he addressed the Ladakh scouts.

Dwelling further on the political leadership of the Telugus, he hailed the State for giving three Presidents — S. Radhakrishnan, V.V. Giri and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.

“Your State has also given me my new colleague M. Venkaiah Naidu,” he said amidst loud cheers from the audience, comprising mostly students.

He also called the social and economic achievements of Andhra Pradesh, in tune with B.R. Ambedkar’s emphasis on value of education, inclusive growth and human dignity, as mirroring the transformation of India.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan hailed Mr. Kovind as a “simple man,” who spent his life in wiping the tears of the poor and marginal sections of society.

“In spite of the elevation in position, he remains a simple man,” Mr. Narasimhan said.

‘Role model’

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his delight at holding a civic reception to the President at his alma mater S.V. Arts College. He called Mr. Kovind’s rise from an ordinary citizen to the nation’s first citizen as “awe-inspiring,” and advised the students to take him as a role model. On the occasion, Mr. Kovind laid the foundation stone for B.R. Ambedkar Skill and Training Academy, to be set up at a cost of ₹25 crore to nurture talent among the youth to make them employable.

Under the Central Government’s ‘Stand Up India,’ he distributed financial assistance worth ₹100 crore among 431 beneficiaries.

Similarly, he distributed assets among SC/ST women under the State government’s flagship programme of providing land to the landless.

Ministers K. Atchannaidu, N. Amarnatha Reddy, and N. Lokesh, Members of Parliament V. Varaprasad (Tirupati) and N. Sivaprasad (Chittoor), Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Reddy Subramanyam, MLA M. Suguna were present.

 

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...to-take-off/article19901069.ece?homepage=true

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu looking at the designs submitted by Norman+ Fosters for Capital city Amaravati, in Vijayawada. A file photo. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement


Over the last three years, timelines have been set and reset for Amaravati, but the construction process has not crossed the designing stage.
Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city Amaravati exactly two years ago, not a single brick has been laid for the development of the capital so far.

Over the last three years, timelines have been set and reset for the capital, but the construction process has not crossed the designing stage.

The Chief Minister’s Office Real-time Executive dashboard says that till date, 2,27,100 people have donated 56,66,596 ‘bricks’ (₹10 per brick) for building the capital city.

Specific timelines
On October 25, 2014, the Chandrababu Naidu government had announced that the new capital city would be constructed within five years, but three years have since elapsed with only the ‘temporary’ structures of the Secretariat and Legislature to show.

On October 9, 2016, Mr. Naidu had written an open letter to the people of the State promising to give a “definite shape” to Amaravati “by Vijaya Dasami next year” (that fell on September 30 in 2017).

However, not even the 18.3-km main seed access road that leads to the capital has been completed till date.

In addition, the government announced in February 2017 that the capital construction would begin in July and be completed by December 2018.

Municipal Minister P. Narayana, on February 2, had given specific dates for the work: “Construction of the Secretariat will start on May 10 and be completed on December 25, 2018.

“Building of the Legislature complex will commence on July 20 and completed by October 4, 2018 and the High Court works will begin on August 17 and completed on April 3, 2019.”

Design re-jig
On March 25, 2016, the Andhra Pradesh government selected Maki Associates as the master architect for Amaravati (Administrative City), but later scrapped the contract in December.

Britain’s Foster+ Partners was subsequently chosen as the master architect and fresh timelines were set for the construction of the capital. Foster+ Partners was supposed to submit its master plan and designs in April this year.

It completed its task a couple of months late. The chief minister “approved” the designs but later found them “not impressive”. In addition, Mr. Naidu further insisted that Baahubali director Rajamouli’s “inputs” be taken for the designs. As a result, the entire process is being re-done.

“When we are building a world-class capital city, things cannot happen in a haste. Hence, the delay in the works,” Principal Secretary (Infrastructure and CRDA) Ajay Jain had said. Mr. Naidu had also said that they were “in no hurry” as they were going to build “one of the top five cities in the world”.

Money spent on “other purposes”
The government of India has so far released ₹1,500 crore for the construction of government buildings like the Secretariat, High Court, Legislature complex and Raj Bhavan in Amaravati, but the State apparently spent the money on “other purposes”.

Since it had to submit utilisation certificates to the Centre for the money already released, the State government has shown the temporary Secretariat and Legislature buildings as the actual structures.

“These buildings (temporary Secretariat and Legislature) are also part of the capital. So, we have utilised the (Centre’s) money on them,” Mr. Narayana said. But now, the State has been searching for funds to build the actual Secretariat and Legislature, which could cost more than ₹ 1,000 crore.

The Municipal Minister, however, denied that funds crunch was holding up the capital construction.

 

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...it-the-road-in-state-soon/article20121275.ece

1,500 four-wheelers to be released in Amaravati, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh is planning to use electrical vehicles in a big way, and 1,500 of them will be run on the roads in Amaravati, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, Energy Department Adviser K. Ranganatham said here on Friday.

He said the State government had submitted indent for these vehicles with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (ESSL). These energy efficient vehicles would save fuel and be environmentally sustainable.

He was speaking at the ‘Solar and Renewables Exhibition’, jointly organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of AP (NREDCAP), State Bank of India (SBI), NABARD, AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), Greenko and Koneru Lakshmaiah University (KLU) here on Friday.

“Electric vehicles would be given to government departments and 500 four-wheelers would be given to the three cities each in the first phase. The energy efficient vehicles would enter into the market once Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the electric vehicle programme in December this year,” Mr. Ranganatham said.

 

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The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the Exhibition on AP AgTech Summit 2017, in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on November 15, 2017. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu lighting the lamp to inaugurate the AP AgTech Summit 2017, in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on November 15, 2017. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu visiting the Exhibition on AP AgTech Summit 2017, in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on November 15, 2017. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu addressing the gathering after inaugurating the AP AgTech Summit 2017, in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on November 15, 2017.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu addressing the gathering after inaugurating the AP AgTech Summit 2017, in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on November 15, 2017. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and other dignitaries are also seen.