File photo of Chandrababu Naidu.
Remarking that building a capital was a 'crisis', Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said Indians could build only slums and hence he was touring different cities of the world so as to adopt the best practises in building Amaravati.
"I need not go anywhere if I am to build a slum. Our people can do it. They can only build slums. Building a capital is a crisis. I have no money but have an iron will," Mr Chandrababu told a press conference, expressing pain over the criticism.
He was referring to criticism that he was promising to build a Singapore, Astana or any other city he visited, in Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
"To build the Hyderabad International Airport, I visited at least 25 airports. I told GMR (the developer) that a world-class airport should be built in Hyderabad. Likewise, I rejected 20 designs submitted by L&T before finalising the current design of the Cyber Towers in Cyberabad. Now it has become the icon of IT in the country," Mr Chandrababu recalled.
"If we have to build monuments, a thorough study is essential. That is the reason I am visiting different cities. Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, is a beautiful and planned city. They have come forward to help us in building Amaravati," said the Chief Minister, who returned from a trip to Kazakhstan and Russia today.
Even Moscow was ready to help in building the new AP capital city, he added.
Mr Chandrababu said Andhra Pradesh would soon enter into a sister city relationship with St Petersburg.
"During a meeting, Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev wanted cooperation not only between Moscow and New Delhi but also provinces of the two countries. I have invited him to visit Amaravati and he accepted it," the Chief Minister said.
Stating that his six-day tour of Kazakhstan and Russia helped build a "positiveness" about Andhra Pradesh, Mr Chandrababu said he asked Russia to set up an industrial cluster in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in aerospace and defence manufacturing under the 'Make in India' programme.
"I told them it is the right time for them to enter Indian market. Otherwise they will miss out on a great opportunity," Mr Chandrababu added.