Amravati/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs. 58,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh's Amaravati on Friday. 

The PM expressed that, standing on the sacred land of Amaravati, he does not see just a city but a dream coming true—a new Amaravati, a new Andhra.

"Amaravati is a land where tradition and progress go hand in hand, embracing both the peace of its Buddhist heritage and the energy of building a developed India," he said.

"These projects are not just about concrete structures but the strong foundation of Andhra Pradesh’s aspirations and India’s vision for development," Modi said.

Remarking that Indra Lok’s capital was once called Amaravati, and now Amaravati is the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Modi emphasized that this is not a mere coincidence but a positive sign for the creation of ‘Swarna Andhra’, which will strengthen India’s path toward development.

The PM lauded Chandrababu Naidu’s acumen for envisioning future tech on a large scale and implementing it swiftly.

He recalled that in 2015, he had the privilege of laying the foundation stone for Praja Rajadhani, emphasising that over the years, the Central Government has extended comprehensive support for Amaravati’s development, ensuring all necessary steps for basic infrastructure.

He remarked that with Naidu’s leadership, the new state government has accelerated development efforts. He highlighted that key institutions, including the High Court, Assembly, Secretariat, and Raj Bhavan, are now being prioritized for construction.

Emphasising that over the past 10 years, India has focused extensively on physical, digital, and social infrastructure, PM Modi highlighted that India is now among the fastest-modernizing infrastructure nations in the world, and Andhra Pradesh is benefiting significantly from this progress.

He noted that thousands of crores worth of road and rail projects have been allocated to Andhra Pradesh, accelerating its development.

“Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a new era of connectivity, which will enhance district-to-district links and improve connectivity with neighboring states," he stated, stressing that farmers will find it easier to access larger markets, and industries will benefit from improved logistical efficiency.

Modi also highlighted that the tourism and pilgrimage sectors will also gain momentum, making key religious sites more accessible. He cited the Renigunta-Naidupeta Highway as an example, stating that it will significantly ease access to Tirupati Balaji shrine, allowing devotees to visit Lord Venkateswara Swami in much less time.

“India’s strength lies not just in its weaponry but in its unity," said the Prime Minister, highlighting that this spirit of unity is further reinforced through Ekta Malls, which are being set up in cities across the country.

PM Modi announced that this year’s International Day of Yoga (21st June), marking the 10th edition, will be celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, and he would also attend it. He urged the people to undertake more activities on Yoga in the next 50 days and set a world record.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 6 National Highway projects and one Railway project. These projects include widening of various sections of National highways; construction of elevated corridors, half clover leaf, and road over bridge, among others.

These projects will improve connectivity, inter-state travel, reduce congestion and improve overall logistics efficiency. Construction of Rail over Rail between Guntakal West and Mallappa gate stations aims to bypass freight trains and reduce congestion at the Guntakal Junction.