Vijayawada, Feb 17 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the state's temporary secretariat in the upcoming state capital Amaravati near here.

Naidu performed religious rituals to launch the construction of the Interim Government Complex or temporary secretariat on 45 acres at Velagapudi village in Guntur district, about 17 km from here.

Construction majors L&T and Shapoorji Pallonji have agreed to complete six lakh square feet of building space in four months.

The state cabinet, earlier this week, agreed for a price of Rs.3,350 per sq.ft., up from Rs.3,000 decided earlier.

Of the total 45 acres, 27 acres have been earmarked for government buildings and the rest for public facilities.

Three building blocks are proposed to be constructed for housing the offices of government departments, which are currently functioning from Hyderabad, the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu's cabinet colleagues, assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao and top officials attended the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the complex was being constructed to ensure smooth governance from Vijayawada.

Though the chief minister and ministers are functioning from Vijayawada for last few months, the officers and staff continue to work from Hyderabad.

Lack of coordination and other problems in running the administration forced the government to embark on construction of the temporary secretariat.

Naidu described it as a new beginning and the first step in development new capital Amaravati.

The chief minister said farmers had come forward to offer 33,000 acres land under land pooling for construction of the capital.