Chandrababu lauds Chhattisgarh CM over new state capital

Raipur, Sept 22:

and Andhra Pradesh will work together for improving road, rail and air connectivity between two states and for strengthening economic cooperation and inter-state relations, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N

said here today.

"....Chhattisgarh is rich in natural resources like iron, coal bauxite and other minerals. It is power surplus. On the other hand Andhra Pradesh is strong in ports. We are having number of ports. Vishakhapatnam, Ganagvaram and as many as 14 ports are going to come in AP.

"That will be the east coast of India. It will be the gateway for India for import and exports. For inter-land, Chhattisgarh is going to help..." Naidu said in a joint press conference with his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh on the sidelines of an 'investors meet' programme late this evening.

"So, we have decided to work on a better connectivity between two states, either road or rail or air connectivity. For the purpose we have constituted a joint task force, chaired by chief secretaries of both states comprising officers of energy, PWD, forest, panchayat departments to work on the issue," Naidu added.

In the investors' convention, a joint manifesto was inked between the two states to strengthen social, economic and cultural cooperation between them. Naidu was on a one-day visit of Naya Raipur, the upcoming new capital of Chhattisgarh, for developing a new capital city post-bifurcation in his state.

"To build a new capital, we wanted to see best practices and also where the new capitals have been developed; one is Naya Raipur. Land acquisition process, farmers friendly policies along with several issues to build a new capital were discussed during the meetings," he said. Naidu lauded the development project of Naya Raipur and congratulated Raman Singh for "systematic development of Naya Raipur".

PTI