Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh-Amaravati the futuristic capital of the State, at a grand ceremony in Guntur district, held today. <br/> <br/>The Prime Minister, along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other guests participated in the rituals to mark laying the foundation stone at 12:40 pm. The auspicious time was between 12.36 pm and 12.43 pm. <br/> <br/>Vijayawada and Guntur besides the entire State wore a festive look ahead of the birth of the new city coinciding Dussehra.<br/><br/>Addresing a public meeting the Prime Minister asked the people to focus on urban development and should consider it as an opportunity not as a challenge. Mr Narendra Modi said, Amaravati is going to be the people's capital in the real sense soon. <br/>Congratulating the people and state Government, Mr Modi said, Andhra Pradesh is today taking a very important step towards development. The Prime Minister hit out at the Congress for the prevailing tension between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He said, Andhra Pradesh was divided because of hasty and self-serving actions of some people. Mr Modi asked people of two states to work in coordination for the betterment of the people of both the states. Mr Modi said, be it Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, the soul is Telugu and both states must progress. He hoped that in future Andhra Pradesh will become a centre of economic revolution in the country. He assured people of Andhra Pradesh of extending all help in its development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for Andhra Pradesh's new capital, Amaravathi in Guntur district of the state. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Nirmala Sitharaman were present on the occasion. The prime minister is also scheduled to inaugurate a new passenger terminal, constructed at a cost of 190 crore rupees, at the Tirupati Airport. Besides, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a mobile phones manufacturing hub to come up close to the airport.<br/><br/>Later, Mr Modi is scheduled to offer prayers at the famous hill shrine of Tirumala. This will be his maiden visit to the temple after becoming the Prime Minister.