NRTS iconic tower to come up in Amaravati

- NRTS chief executive officer Ravi Kumar Vemuru says the mega tower will be constructed by Non-Resident Telugus at a cost of
Rs 240 crore
- States that the NRTS will act as a platform to connect 40 lakh Telugus living in over 100 countries and will promote and seek investments in various sectors in State from non-resident Telugus, foreign investment agencies and industrialists
- The 10-member governing body of the Society is being headed by the CM

Vijayawada: Non-Resident Telugu Society (NRTS), an initiative of Andhra Pradesh government, to promote "Brand AP" among the Telugu communities settled abroad and encourage their active participation in the development process of the State, is planning to construct a 27-floor iconic tower in Amaravati at a cost of Rs 240 crore.

The NRTS iconic tower will be used as the administrative office of the NRTS with many special features. NRTS chief executive officer Ravi Kumar Vemuru and three coordinators associated with the NRTS addressed the media conference here on Saturday.

Ravi Kumar said the NRTS acts as a platform to connect 40 lakh Telugus living in over 100 countries. He said the Telugu investors in various countries needs a platform to furnish information about the investment prospects in State.

He said the State government has taken initiative to form NRTS to unite Telugus living across the world. He said the NRTS is planning to build its own office in 4 lakh square feet area in Amaravati with features of revolving restaurant, digital library, 2,000-seat auditorium, 1,000-seat amphi theatre, rooftop infinity pool and digital classrooms. He said the mega tower will be constructed by non-resident Telugus at a cost of Rs 240 crore. He said the NRTS could get about Rs 280 crore if they sell space for commercial purposes.

Ravi Kumar said as part of the initiative to attract investments from Telugu NRIs around the world particularly the US, UK etc, he would visit 20 different cities in the US, the Gulf and Europe in two months to attract more investments.

He said some Telugu NRIs are interested to invest in Andhra Pradesh for which the State government should create a comfort zone for the NRIs. He said that the NRTS will promote and seek investments in various sectors in State from non-resident Telugus, foreign investment agencies and industrialists for which three coordinators were appointed.

He said Kanuru Seshu Babu has been appointed as director, Head of Investments and will look after the investments. He said K Buchi Ram Prasad has been appointed chief coordinator of NRTS affairs and Moturi Niranjan has been appointed as special officer, Development of Smart Villages and Smart Wards programme. He said the NRTS is already working to promote individual toilets, LED bulbs and other basic amenities in villages and towns in State.

He said the NRTS has been registered recently with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as its chairman. Chief executive officer Ravi Kumar said the NRTS has already started services like passport services, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, lost documents and Tirupati special darshans etc and would start more services soon. He said the temporary office is located at Brindavan Colony in Vijayawada.

Ravi Kumar is presently working as adviser to Government of Andhra Pradesh on NRT affairs and investment. He said information about NRTS can be obtained on www.apnrt.com. Kanuru Suresh Babu, Moturi Niranjan and K Buchi Ram Prasad also spoke on the occasion.