Amaravati: Did you know that the one day fast taken up by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will cost Rs 20 crores for the state exchequer? It is learnt that the expense at the venue where he will take go on a hunger strike, Vijayawada Municipal Stadium is itself Rs 4 crores. Then there are other related expenses which will amount to a total of Rs 20 crores.

Chandrababu had announced his plan to take up one day fast in Vijayawada on April 20 which happens to be his birthday. He is protesting against the Centre's stand on granting Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. He claims to be putting pressure on the Centre to grant SCS as well as fulfill all the promises made in AP Bifurcation Act.

The state government officials have estimated that a day's expenses for the CM's fast programme would be Rs 4 crores. On Friday morning, Chandrababu will sit on a hunger strike at Vijayawada Municipal Stadium. Arrangements are being made to install ACs, sound systems and tent at the venue. In fact, the district collector is overseeing the arrangements along with police officials. Above all these, the district officials have been instructed that all through the CM's fast people should be given buttermilk, cool drinks, and even lunch.

It is learnt that the officials received instructions from the CMO to forcibly get students from colleges to participate in the programme. It is also understood that the government has set aside 200 RTC buses and 100 private buses for transporting students to the venue. The TDP MLAs and leaders are also observing fast at the district headquarters across the state. All these, along with the cost of publicity on TV channels, put together,is estimated to cost the state Rs 20 crores.