Ahoy! Amaravati

All set for foundation ceremony by PM Modi today

Amaravati: Thursday will be a twin celebration for the people of Andhra Pradesh. The state would be celebrating Dasara festival as well as the foundation ceremony of what is being called as ‘Raraju’ (King of Kings) among the capital cities in the country.

The massive capital foundation exercise by the Andhra Pradesh government for the past six months has not only generated keen interest among the Telugus but it has also succeeded in building emotional bondage among the people with the new capital city.

With the mega event set to take place at noon Telugu-speaking people are waiting with bated breath. Telugus living in various countries have already reached the city to witness the spectacular event. Several of them have even brought holy soil and water from their respective countries to cement their bondage with the new capital.

The very name, Amaravati, had strengthened the bondage of the Telugu people to become a part of the foundation ceremony for the new capital. The efforts to bring out a number of videos explaining the historical importance of Amaravati and its wide circulation in the social media had built emotional bondage making them to chant the Amaravati mantra.

The arrangements at the venue are ready for the show. The venue is under the total control of the gun wielding police and special protection force. The area is barricaded guiding the guests, farmers and other visitors to their respective galleries.

Mouthwatering dishes for the visitors, invitees and the farmers are getting ready. The stoves that were lit at 9 am on Wednesday will be burn for about 30 hours. Eluru MP Maganti Babu, who is known for his hospitality at the Telugu Desam Mahanadu programmes, is now looking after the food arrangements here.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made an aerial survey of the arrangements on Wednesday morning. He also cleansed the area with the holy water brought from various rivers and sprinkled the holy water. He also reviewed the security and other arrangements at the venue late in the evening.

The roads are marked for the VVIPs, VIPs and others to reach the venue from different sides. Police forces have taken position at every point to ensure that there is no inconvenience caused to the people as they travel to the venue. Every road would remain one way from morning to the end of the event to ensure that there is no traffic jam.

The district administration had procured luxury cars and air conditioned buses to be used for the travel of the VIPs from various destinations in the city to the venue. Several vehicles including Mercedes Benz, Audi and other high end vehicles have been kept ready for VVIPS coming from abroad.

In addition several innovas and other AC buses have been pressed into service to cater transport the VIPs. Members of the Vijayawada Taxi Owners Association have volunteered to offer their services for the cause of Amaravati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ministers from Singapore and Japan, ambassadors from various countries, several Central ministers, Chief Ministers and Governors of various states, top politicians and business leaders will reach Uddhandarayunipalem village in Guntur district by helicopter from Gannavaram.

The Prime Minister along with other dignitaries will perform rituals at 12.35 pm to formally lay the foundation. The Prime Minister would spend about 90 minutes at the event.The central dais will have 15 seats earmarked for guests,

including the Prime Minister, Japan Minister Motoo Hayashi, Singapore Minister S Iswaran, two Chief Ministers K Chandrashekar Rao of Telangana and Prakash Singh Badal of Punjab, Governors ESL Narasimhan of AP and Telangana, K Rosaiah of Tamil Nadu, PB Acharya of Assam and Nagaland,

besides Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and some Union ministers. Two other platforms with 350 seats has been erected where AP ministers, MPs, MLCs, MLAs, and people's representatives will be seated on one side and film actors, business magnates and industrialists on the other side.