AP farmers on way to Singapore to study urban infra planning

Farmers of Andhra Pradesh are being flown to Singapore to study the development of the plots they got back in lieu of their farm land.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu flagged off a bus carrying 34 farmers from the Andhra Pradesh capital region to Hyderabad today, from where they will fly to Singapore on a four-day trip partly sponsored by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA).
Naidu said it was his objective to see farmers, who voluntarily parted with their land for the construction of the state's new capital city Amaravati, transformed into industrialists.
He said the new capital city will be built on the lines of Singapore.

"It's my responsibility to lend a helping hand to you all and you should grab it. You all should excel as entrepreneurs and we will create necessary opportunities for that," the chief minister told farmers.
"I promised to build our capital city that is akin to Singapore. Designs for Amaravati are getting ready and the construction activity will start soon," he said.

He said Singapore was a tiny fishing village 55 years ago which was transformed into a "heaven" with determination of its residents.
In all, 123 farmers who gave away their lands for the capital, are being flown to Singapore in three batches to enable them "to study how to develop the plots (residential and commercial) they got back (in lieu of the farm land)".

The visit, according to the CRDA, will create an awareness among farmers on urban infrastructure planning and development undertaken by the Singapore government.