Amaravati May Become Sole Capital Of Andhra Pradesh
Why in the News ?
The Union government is likely to introduce the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to declare Amaravati as the sole capital, following a State Assembly resolution and renewed political push by the TDP government.
Proposed Bill and Key Developments:
- The Centre plans to introduce the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
- It seeks to amend Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
- Objective is to officially recognise Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
- The move follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly (March 28, 2026).
- The initiative is backed by the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led government, which revived the Amaravati project after returning to power in 2024.
Background: Capital Controversy in Andhra Pradesh
- After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Hyderabad was designated as a common capital for up to 10 years.
- The Centre had set up an expert committee to recommend a new capital for Andhra Pradesh.
- Initially, the TDP government selected Amaravati and began land acquisition in Guntur district, requiring compliance with environmental impact assessment and environmental clearances for large-scale infrastructure development.
- In 2019, the YSRCP government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy halted Amaravati development, raising concerns about ex post facto approvals and pending regulatory clearances.
- Proposed a three-capital model:
○ Visakhapatnam – Executive capital
○ Kurnool – Judicial capital
○ Amaravati – Legislative capital
- The three-capital proposal triggered political debate and public protests.
| About AP Reorganisation Act & Capital Issues: ● Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 led to the creation of Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh.● Section 5 of the Act deals with the capital arrangement, initially naming Hyderabad as temporary capital. ● The Act allowed flexibility for Andhra Pradesh to establish its own capital. ● Capital location has implications for regional development, administrative efficiency, and political balance, requiring adherence to EIA notification and Forest Conservation Act provisions for sustainable urban planning. ● The Amaravati issue highlights challenges in federal coordination, urban planning, and resource allocation, with debates around environmental democracy, precautionary principle, and polluter pays principle in infrastructure development. ● Legal challenges have invoked environmental jurisprudence principles, emphasizing the need for retrospective environmental clearances and ensuring a pollution free environment in the new capital region, particularly given its proximity to the coastal regulation zone. ● The project’s revival necessitates comprehensive compliance with environmental norms, avoiding ex-post or post facto approvals that could undermine regulatory frameworks established through landmark judgments like the Vanashakti judgment. |