Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday promised to transform Amaravathi, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, into a role model for the entire country.
He also said that he would develop it into a heritage city.
Modi made these promises while addressing a public meeting in Guntur district as part of his visit to the Telugu state.
Modi began his address in Telugu by invoking the names of Telugu poets Gurram Jashuva and Tikkanna. He said, "Akshara Kramam lone kaakunda anni rangaalalo, amsallo agragamulaina Andhra prajalaku subhakankshalu. Padma Bhushan, dalita ratnam, kavikokila Gurram Jashua janminchina Gunturu prajalaku namaskaram. Maha kavi Tikkanna janminchina Guntur prajalaku namskaram." He then switched over to Hindi.
Speaking about the upcoming Andhra Pradesh capital, Modi said that Amaravathi had a rich cultural heritage, and that the Centre had dedicated several of its development projects, worth hundreds of crores of rupees, to the nation, which showed the city's importance.
He also said that the Centre was building multiple petroleum projects across the state. A petroleum project in Vizag, and others on behalf of the ONGC in the Krishna and Godavari basins had been launched, he said.
He also said that the Centre had taken up construction of the Krishnapatnam port, and that the project would provide employment to thousands of people of the state.