AP proved its mettle: Naidu

• Kicks off farmers festival by offering prayers to gangireddu
  and tries flying kites
• Says schemes like Sankranti Kanuka, Chandranna Kanuka meant to benefit poor
• Govt on cloud nine for attracting investments to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh crore during Partnership Summit

Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh has proved its mettle with huge investments of Rs 1.5 lakh crore pouring in the recent Partnership Summit 2016 in Vizag, said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here on Thursday.

Greeting the people of Andhra Pradesh on the festive occasion, he said Sankranti would herald a new chapter in the history of the State, adding more to its glory and values of our culture and tradition.

Speaking to media after inaugurating a new hotel `Marasa Sarovar Premiere’ here on Thursday, Chief Minister said `we were left (after bifurcation) with nothing.

But now were able to get a huge investments offer, surprising every one’’ adding that ``soon the State will emerge as a logistic hub in the entire South East Asia with the slew of massive development initiatives underway.

In this connection, he said that plans are afoot for development of an industrial tri-city corridor linking Tirupati-Nellore- Chennai wherein the major airports and ports were planned to boost industries for generating employment and economic development of the region.

The 960 km long coastlines is a boon to the State and the government will go all out in exploiting the natural resource for its rapid economic growth, Naidu observed.

``Our intention is that everyone should reap the benefit of development and no one should left with hunger’’ he says, while explaining the reason for introducing the schemes like Sankranti Kanuka, Chandranna Kanuka, etc. for the benefit of the poor.

Reiterating his government resolve to develop Tirupati as a mega city, Naidu said his government has already geared up for development of tanks to make Tirupati a city of lakes and improving facilities in Kalyani dam to make it a major tourist attraction.

Tirupati with four projects, about 100 tanks, universities, IIT, IISER, temples etc. is the most ideal place to develop as a mega city and a tourism place,” he added.

We have taken up promotion of tourism in a big way in Tirupati area’’ he said assuring his government support to boost hospitality sector including construction of shopping malls, hotels, convention in the city as part of the initiatives aimed at making it a mega city and also world spiritual headquarter and star hotels will be utilised as a place for marketing handicrafts

Naidu said that the government decision to celebrate Sankranti was to preserve and promote our rich and ancient culture and tradition. I have been visiting my village Naravaripalli, for the past 15 years to celebrate Sankranti in my ancestral home’’ he averred.

Marasa Sarovar Premiere joint managing director Mayur Madhvani, Ministers Gopalakrishna Reddy, Raghunadha Reddy, MLAs, MLCs, district officials and others were present.