AP CM Naidu launches construction of LV Prasad Eye Institute in Amaravati
Amaravati, Sept 23 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the LV Prasad Eye Institute at Abbarajupalem in Tulluru mandal of Amaravati and formally launched the construction works.
The institute is being established over 12 acres under the Sudha and Venkat Jasti Campus and is designed to provide eye-care services to around three lakh people annually.
It will also focus on ophthalmic research, training and community health programmes, besides establishing a dedicated Eye and Brain Centre.
Addressing a public meeting after the bhoomi puja, Naidu said the establishment of the institute was a matter of pride for Amaravati and expressed hope that the centre would develop into a leading institution for eye-care research, treatment and training.
He said the LV Prasad Eye Institute had already provided nearly three crore eye-care services and was operating 319 centres across four States, with a focus on providing timely treatment to the poor.
The Chief Minister said Amaravati was gaining national and global recognition and that the government was developing it as a no-pollution, blue-green, green energy and carbon-neutral city, besides promoting it as a DeepTech capital.
He said the State was now focusing on quantum computing and that a 133-qubit quantum computer was being established in Amaravati with the participation of IBM, TCS and L&T.
As many as 21 quantum startups had come forward to establish operations in Amaravati, he added.
Around Rs 50,000 crore worth of works were currently underway in Amaravati, Mr Naidu said, adding that inner and outer ring roads, a Sports City and an international airport were among the planned infrastructure projects.
He said Amaravati was being developed as a hub for knowledge economy, research, healthcare and human development, with institutions such as VIT, SRM and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham already present and BITS Pilani and XLRI campuses expected to come up.
The Chief Minister said Amaravati would also emerge as a hub for AI, laboratory automation, experimental biology and a Quantum Bio Valley, while a Banking Street was proposed to promote financial activity.
He announced that a Pan-IIT Conference would be held in Vijayawada on October 3, with experts from across the world participating in discussions on future development, technology and innovation.
Naidu called upon the youth to utilise emerging technologies and opportunities and strive for excellence, expressing hope that Amaravati would emerge as a destination for world-class living standards and research.
TNT KM
