Amaravati May Become Sole Capital Of Andhra Pradesh

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.