Initial response has been very encouraging as prime minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for the new capital of the Andhra Pradesh on October 22. The state government’s initiative to involve people in building the new capital Amaravati by donating e-bricks has received good response so far from across the world.

Within three days of the ‘Amaravati ebrick’ being launched, nearly 17 lakhs e-bricks were donated. Each e-brick costs Rs 10 and many Andhrites including some NRIs have individually donated more than 10,000 bricks each.

State chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had appealed to people, especially all Andhrites settled across the world, to contribute Rs 10 for each brick that will be used in the construction of the capital, while launching the ‘Amaravati ebrick’ programme on October 15 as part of ‘My Brick-My Amaravati’ initiative.  This will help the cash strapped state. He called Amaravati a real people’s capital.

Naidu aspires to build Amaravati as world's best capital. Calling Amaravati as a people's capital, government plans maximum involvement of the people in building it.

The link to pay online for the ebricks is provided on the official website Amaravati.gov.in. “We are creating history as we lay the foundation for our Amaravati. I invite you to join us in building a true praja rajadhani that will be Amaravati brick by brick,’’ Naidu said.

Once the payment is completed, a receipt in the form of a certificate bearing the CM’s signature is sent to the donor. All the 16,000 farmers who gave up their land for the building of the new capital are being personally invited by TDP leaders who are visiting their houses and hand over the invitation cards along with a dhoti and saree.

The foundation stone for starting construction of Amaravati will be laid by Modi on October 22. More than one lakh people are expected to attend the ceremony which will also see several foreign dignitaries.

Talking about the programme Palle Raghunath, Information and Public Relations Minister said, “Soil and water from 34,000 villages coming to Amaravati. People will get a sentiment that they were part of capital building.”