Centre releases over Rs 4,200 crore to Andhra for Amaravati capital project
Amaravati (PTI): The Central Government has released over Rs 4,200 crore to Andhra Pradesh for Amaravati Capital Development project after it (centre) received the first disbursement of USD 205 million from the World Bank, a senior official has said.
The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) together committed to fund USD 1600 Million (Rs 13,600 crore), USD 800 Million each, for Amaravati capital city phase-I development, while the Centre will be contributing remaining Rs 1,400 crore, out of the Rs 15,000 crore committed by the Central Government for phase-I of the development.
According to the World Bank documents the project became effective on January 22 this year and the first disbursement of USD 205 million for program advance was done last month.
"Out of this total Rs 15,000 crore, there is a sharing between the World Bank, ABD and the centre. The ADB also may have given same amount (USD 205 million). I do not know exactly how much the ADB has given to the Government of India. The Centre has also released its matching amount of around Rs 800 crore. So we have received a total of Rs 4,285 crore from the Centre on April 1,” the official told PTI.
According to the official , the Centre has agreed to give 25 per cent of the total committed amount as "Mobilisation Advance" and the amount that was released is under this head.
The next instalment of the committed amount will be released after the state government shows some progress and submit bills or utilisation certificates, the official added.
"That (second tranche of funds) will take time. It will take at least six months, because the works have just started and in another two to three months they will pick up," the bureaucrat said.
On some complaints lodged with the World Bank expressing concerns over the environmental and livelihood issues, he said the World Bank and ADB have their own strong mechanism for redressing the grievances which is independent of their board also.
In fact, a delegation of six members, three each of WB and ADB visited Amaravati last month and expressed satisfaction after an inquiry.
AP chief secretary K Vijayanand recently said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will relaunch Amaravati greenfield capital city construction in April, which will entail the resumption of works worth about Rs 1 lakh crore.
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank which provides loans and guarantees among others, to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries will be funding USD 800 besides ADB.
According to the WB document , the Department of Economic Affairs at the Centre is the borrower while the Andhra Pradesh Capital Regional Development Authority is the implementing agency.
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Haj tour operators failed to comply with timelines set by Saudi authorities: Govt on 'quota cut'
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI): Amid concerns over Saudi Arabia reportedly "cutting" India's private Haj quota this year, the government on Tuesday said the Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) had failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities despite reminders.
The government also said that due to its intervention, the Saudi Haj Ministry has agreed to re-open the Haj Portal for the CHGOs to complete their work in respect of 10,000 pilgrims based on the current space availability in Mina.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) through the Haj Committee of India looks after arrangements for the bulk of the 1,75,025 quota allotted to India, which is 1,22,518 in the current year.
The rest 52,507 is allotted to private tour operators.
In a statement, the ministry said that as a result of its efforts, the country allocation for India which was 1,36,020 in 2014 has gradually increased to 1,75,025 in 2025.
These quotas are finalised by the Saudi authorities closer to the time of the pilgrimage.
"The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) through the Haj Committee of India manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota allotted to India, which is 1,22,518 in the current year. All the necessary arrangements, including flight schedules, transportation, Mina camps, accommodation, and additional services have been taken up and completed as per the Saudi requirements, within the given timelines," the statement said.
The balance of the quota was allotted, as is customary, to private tour operators.
Due to changes in Saudi guidelines, more than 800 private tour operators were consolidated into 26 legal entities termed Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs), by the ministry this year.
Addressing legal challenges, the Haj quota was allocated by MoMA to these 26 CHGOs well in advance.
"However, despite reminders, they failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities and failed to finalise the mandatory contracts, including for Mina camps, accommodation and transport of pilgrims, as required under the Saudi regulations," the statement said.
The Government of India has been continuously engaging on this matter with the Saudi authorities concerned, including at the ministerial level, the statement said.
The Saudi Haj Ministry highlighted its concerns for the safety of the pilgrims, particularly in Mina, where Haj rituals have to be completed under extreme summer heat conditions in a limited space.
It also underlined that due to delays, the available space in Mina became occupied.
The Saudi authorities have further conveyed that they were not extending the timelines for any country this year, the statement said.
"Due to the government's intervention, the Saudi Haj Ministry has agreed to re-open the Haj Portal (Nusuk Portal) to all CHGOs to complete their work in respect of 10,000 pilgrims based on the current space availability in Mina," it said.
Directions have been issued by the ministry to CHGOs to do so urgently.
India would naturally appreciate any gesture by Saudi authorities to accommodate more pilgrims, the statement added.
Several Opposition leaders had voiced concern after the reported cancellation of over 52,000 Haj slots by Saudi Arabia for Indian pilgrims and urged the central government to take up the matter with their leadership.
"The reported cancellation of Hajj slots for over 52,000 Indian pilgrims, many of whom have already completed payments, is deeply concerning. I urge Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar to engage with the Saudi authorities at the earliest to explore a resolution in the interest of all affected pilgrims," J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said.
"This measure is crucial to ease the distress of thousands hoping to undertake the sacred pilgrimage this year," he had posted on his official X handle.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to the Saudi leadership in this regard.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had said the sudden decision to reduce the Hajj quota has caused immense distress for both the pilgrims and tour operators.
"Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of India's private Haj quota has been cut abruptly. This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country. Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene by taking up this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar," she posted on X.
Congress general secretary Syed Naseer Hussain said he was shocked to learn that 52,000 Indian pilgrims' Haj slots had been "cancelled despite payments".
"I urge Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to immediately initiate talks with the Saudi authorities to find a solution and ensure India gets back the slots. India's large Muslim population deserves larger number of slots!" he had said.
Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of India’s private Haj quota has been cut abruptly. This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 13, 2025
Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately…
Shocking to know that 52,000 Indian pilgrims’ Hajj slots has been canceled despite payments— I urge Hon’ble minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar to Immediately initiate talks with the Saudi authorities to find an solution and ensure India gets back the slots. India’s…
— Dr Syed Naseer Hussain,MP Rajya Sabha (@NasirHussainINC) April 13, 2025
