Andhra's new capital named Amaravati, Naidu announces

HYDERABAD: Amaravati will be the name of the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Wednesday.
He told reporters after a cabinet meeting that it was unanimously decided to name the new capital Amaravati. ​TOI had hinted at the same name in November last year.
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The new capital is being built in Vijayawada-Guntur region and Amaravati, the ancient town on the banks of the Krishna river, is part of the region.
According to the sources, Naidu finalized Amaravati as the name of his upcoming capital on the rationale that in one stroke, a new modern capital can be linked to history dating back to at least 2000 years when the small town of Amaravati, which is about 32 km away from the core capital region, was a major Buddhist centre.
Naidu said the new capital would have the strength of both the 'vaastu' and auspicious name.
Naidu, who also briefed the cabinet about his visit to Singapore, said Singapore had come forward to build the capital. He said the master plan for the first phase of the capital would be ready by May 15.
The chief minister announced that the new capital would be linked with radial roads. He said a 200-km-long ring road will be built connecting the new capital with Vijayawada and Guntur.
Since Amaravati is also associated with Telugu heritage dating back to the Satavahana kingdom, Naidu felt that it would be the most appropriate name for the AP capital. It was also felt that the name Amaravati will elevate the status of the new capital and will be embraced by all Telugus, whether they are in Andhra, Telangana, elsewhere in India, or abroad.
The sources said many in the government and the TDP had suggested that the capital be named after NTR, but Naidu had shot it down.